Bob Carr (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

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

The Strategic Reform Program was developed with the purpose of increasing the efficiency and productivity in Defence. The savings achieved under the SRP for 2011-12 will be reported in the Annual Report. They are not reported on a six-monthly basis.

Defence will further enhance productivity through the implementation of further shared services reform, tighter recruitment practices, and a prioritisation of Australian Public Service (APS) positions. This includes reductions in the growth in APS positions announced in the 2011-12 and 2012-13 Budgets.

Defence has also been subject to a range of efficiency dividends on its non-operational, non-capability funding, which Defence has achieved through greater cost consciousness, improved economies of scale, and a prioritisation of activities.