The plan to Reform Support Ship Repair and Management Practices, developed by Mr Paul Rizzo, was released recently and is the next phase in a series of reforms announced previously by Defence Minister Stephen Smith and Defence Materiel Minister Jason Clare to improve Defence’s accountability, procurement and sustainment practices.
Mr Rizzo led an expert team to develop a plan to address significant problems in the repair, maintenance and sustainment of the RAN’s amphibious fleet following advice which made it clear that problems with the amphibious fleet had built up over a decade or more.
The team was also asked to consider the impact of those findings on the sustainment of other naval vessels in particular supply ships, and the maintenance concepts for the Air Warfare Destroyer and Landing Helicopter Dock.
The report highlights a number of critical issues that Navy, the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) and Defence need to address.
The report found poor risk management practices, a failure to manage assets on a ‘whole of life’ basis, negative aspects of a ‘can do, make do’ culture, the failure of Navy and the DMO to work together seamlessly, and perhaps most importantly, an overall ineffectiveness of the Naval engineering function in Navy and the maritime elements of the Defence Materiel Organisation.
In releasing the report, Ministers Smith and Clare say these issues have compromised the availability of Navy assets and potentially the sustainability of Navy ships in the longer term.
The Rizzo Report makes twenty-four recommendations to improve operational availability and outcomes and ensure the ongoing technical integrity of Navy ships.
Defence fully accepts Mr Rizzo’s recommendations and the Government and Defence will implement them.
The Rizzo Report is available online at http://www.defence.gov.au/rizzo-review/