David Feeney (Batman, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Justice) Share this | Hansard source

Minister, you have spoken with great enthusiasm about the budget, so let me turn your attention to the DSTO.

As you would no doubt be aware, one of the nasty little surprises from a government that promised no surprises was significant cuts to the DSTO. The DSTO, of course, is an organisation that has an extraordinary record, and does this country very proud indeed. The DSTO has worked with partners across defence industries and, indeed, has worked very successfully with organisations right around the world. DSTO teams travel to all parts of the globe and work side-by-side with ADF teams on operations so that they can deliver the very best results to our people.

The DSTO is the proud parent of some extraordinary inventions—our JORN over-the-horizon radar system is one; the Nulka anti-ship decoy system is another—a decoy system which is now found on every US Navy vessel, as well as our own. And, perhaps a little topically, the DSTO invented the black box, which of course is used to trace aircraft. An extraordinary record of achievement in the defence-science space that has helped make defence scientists and technicians leaders in the world in how they collaborate with private industry, and in the work and the accomplishments to which they can lay claim.

In that context, can the minister please explain how it is over the forward estimates that some $50 million has been carved out of the DSTO budget? Can he please advise how that $50 million cut over the forward estimates is going to impact on the work of DSTO? What is that going to mean for the participation of the DSTO in overseas collaborations? What is that going to mean for the DSTO in programs and research that is presently underway? How is it, amidst all of your flummery around the defence budget, that such critically important capabilities that flow from the work of the DSTO can be ignored? Are we going to see significant job losses—staff losses? And what about facilities—obviously, the DSTO works very successfully out of a number of facilities. Are any of those slated for your rather dramatic and inflated plans regarding releasing defence estate?

While we are on the subject of the DSTO, you will have noticed that our legendary Commission of Audit—a commission of audit that conducted its work in great secrecy and was not able to release its findings before the by-election, then was not able to release its findings before the Tasmanian state election and then was not able to release its findings before the Western Australian Senate re-election—has finally now released its findings. And we found a little gem in there, which I am sure did not escape your notice, that the DSTO is an agency that is well-suited for outsourcing and sale. What can you tell us about government intentions with that rather extraordinary idea?

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