Gary Humphries (ACT, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Materiel) Share this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 9 November 2011:

In regard to Technical Skills Shortage:

(1) What work has been done by the department to assess technical skill levels within the Australian Defence organisation generally and as needed to achieve Force 2030, and can copies of any reports that have been prepared since 1 December 2007 be provided.

(2) (a) How are technical skill levels for the purposes of meeting current and future operational requirements and for the purposes of delivering Force 2030 measured within the Australian Defence organisation; and (b) what are the current technical skill levels in the: (i) department, (ii) Army, (iii) Navy, (iv) Air Force, and (v) Defence Materiel Organisation.

(3) How did the Navy reach the decision to award bonuses of up to $80 000 per annum to engineers, as reported in the media on 22 September 2011.

(4) What work has been done within the department to assess technical skill levels within the Defence industry and the Australian industry generally, to the extent that it affects the department and the delivery of Force 2030.

(5) Can a breakdown be provided by service and by group, of how many engineers are currently employed.

(6) (a)What are the churn rates within the department for engineers; (b) what are the separation rates for engineers; and (c) how do these churn and separation rates compare with applicable benchmarks.

(7) On what basis are engineers within the department engaged.

(8) Which current and future procurement projects are most dependent upon, and therefore vulnerable to, a shortage in technical skills, engineering skills in particular.

(9) Is a lack of technical skill currently jeopardising the department's capacity to fulfill its obligations under any major capital project contracts; if so, which projects and which contractual obligations.

(10) What 'Job Families', Graduate Programs and career structures are in place within the department to attract and retain technical staff, in particular engineers, and which specific engineering specialities are recognized and how.