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Addressing the ADM2011 Congress this week, defence materiel minister Jason Clare updated the audience on how the government was progressing its work on the Projects of Concern and the Defence Capability Plan.
“The Projects of Concern List has been an outstanding success – and a credit to my predecessor Greg Combet.
“In the three years since it was established, seven projects have come off the list - two have been cancelled and five have been successfully remediated,” Clare said.
“I am hopeful we can take a few more off the list later this year, but it is going to require a lot of hard work and all of us working together.
"That’s why yesterday I met with CEOs from three companies who have projects on the list.
"After this speech I will meet with four more companies with projects on the list.
“The purpose of these meetings is simple – to make sure there is focus at the top of Government, Defence and industry to remediate these projects and ultimately take them off the list.
"I have already found them very productive and useful – and I intend to do them twice a year," Clare outlined.
“I also want to put more rigour and measurable standards into the Projects of Concern process.
“I am working with Defence and industry on this and it will form part of the reforms Minister Smith and I bring forward.”
The Defence Capability Plan
“Late last year we released an update of the DCP – outlining future projects for the next 10 years,” Clare said.
The next DCP will be released mid year – and will then be updated on line as changes are approved by Government.
“Last week I met with the Australian Industry Group Defence Council.
“One of the things we talked about was greater industry input into the DCP and earlier input.
“The suggestion from the group was that we need to improve the operation of the Capability Development Advisory Forum and the associated land, sea and air environmental working groups.
“The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) made the same recommendation in its 2010 report into the DCP.
“To be effective the working groups need a clear purpose," Clare explained.
“That means looking at the future pipeline of work and the capability of industry to meet it.
“It also means identifying gaps in the pipeline or existing capabilities and making recommendations on how to address them.”