Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

The Minister for Defence has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

During the period 1 July to 31 December 2010 Navy met its obligations to designated operations and other short term directed tasking. Navy is not required to and does not prepare all fleet units to the same operational level of readiness. To do so would be unnecessary, inefficient and costly. The preparedness of fleet units is maintained at an appropriate level to meet strategic guidance and ensure effective training throughput.

Those fleet units held at higher readiness for short notice operational roles are appropriately manned, equipped and trained for the tasks that they might have to perform. Fleet units at other stages of the continuum will also be crewed in a manner that is best suited to their assigned tasking. This might mean the reduction in certain trained/skilled positions filled in order to make way for additional trainees. Fleet units invariably go to sea with all available accommodation filled.

To meet and sustain operational, exercise, preparedness and training requirements, fleet units are operated in a cycle of scheduled maintenance, training and operational availability. Planned major maintenance activity periods are a routine element of the operational cycle.

Major Surface Combatants and Amphibious Ships:

(1) to (3) During the period 1 July to 31 December 2010 the operational availability status of Surface Force naval vessels is summarised in Table 1 below.

Table 1

The operational manning strengths in the Navy's Surface Force vessels (with the exception of Perth undergoing major upgrade) during the period were as follows:

Ninety-five per cent crewed with engineering officers and 96 per cent crewed with engineer sailors; and

(b)   Ninety-seven per cent crewed with non-engineering officers and 96 per cent crewed with non-engineer sailors.

Submarines:

(1) to (3) During the period 1 July to 31 December 2010 the operational availability status of Submarine Force vessels is summarised in Table 2 below.

Table 2

The operational manning strengths in the Navy's Submarine Force (crewed submarines Collins, Waller and Dechaineux) during the period were as follows:

(a)   One hundred per cent crewed with engineer officers and 99.4 per cent crewed with engineer sailors; and

(b)   Ninety-eight per cent crewed with non-engineer officers and 93 per cent crewed with non-engineer sailors.

Mine Hunting and Clearance Diving Forces:

(1) to (3) During the period 1 July to 31 December 2010 the operational availability status of Mine Hunting Force vessels and Clearance Diving Force are summarised in Table 3 below.

Table 3

Mine Hunting:

(4) The operational manning strengths in the Navy's Mine Hunting Force vessels (with the exception of Hawkesbury and Norman in Extended Readiness Availability) during the period were as follows:

(a)   One hundred per cent crewed with engineer officers and 88 per cent crewed with engineer sailors; and

(b)   Seventy-five per cent crewed with non-engineer officers and 100 per cent crewed with non-engineer sailors.

Clearance Diving:

(4) The operational manning strengths in the Navy's Clearance Diving Force during the period were as follows:

(a) One hundred per cent crewed with engineer officers and 100 per cent crewed with engineer sailors; and

(b) Ninety-eight per cent crewed with non-engineer officers (Clearance Diving supervisors) and 100 per cent crewed with non-engineer sailors (Clearance Divers and support staff.)

Hydrographic Forces:

(1) to (3) During the period 1 July to 31 December 2010 the operational availability status of Hydrographic Force vessels is summarised in Table 4 below. Exceptions are noted in the Non Operational column.

Table 4

(4)   The operational manning strengths in the Navy's Hydrographic Force vessels during the period were as follows:

(a)   One hundred per cent crewed with engineer officers and 100 per cent crewed with engineer sailors; and

(b)   One hundred per cent crewed with non-engineer officers and 99 per cent crewed with non-engineer sailors.

Patrol Boat Force:

(1) to (3) During the period 1 July to 31 December 2010 the operational availability status of Patrol Boat Force vessels is summarised in Table 5 below. Exceptions are noted in the Non Operational column.

Table 5

(4)   The operational manning strengths in the Navy's Patrol Boat Force during the period were as follows:

(a)   One hundred per cent crewed with engineer officers and 100 per cent crewed with engineer sailors; and

(b)   One hundred per cent crewed with non-engineer officers and 100 per cent crewed with non-engineer sailors.