David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 21 March 2011:

For the period 1 July to 31 December 2010, what specific savings have been made in the Strategic Reform Program 'Other Savings' for the following areas:

(a) zero based budgeting review;

(b) minor capital program;

(c) facilities program;

(d) administrative; and

(e) productivity.

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

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

The 'other savings relates to central provisions that were assessed as no longer being required and have been removed from budgets. It was always past practice for Defence to retain some central funding to cater for future contingencies. Following a comprehensive and detailed review of Defence funding as part of the White Paper, Defence has now included a more appropriate and lower level of funding in budgets because Defence considers that it should be able to manage with lower levels of contingency. As a result, the central provisions are no longer required and they have been reallocated to remediate the budget and fund Force 2030. Individual budgets have been reduced and the funds have been reinvested elsewhere. This is where the 'other savings' have been made and illustrates that Defence has an improved understanding of its budget and is better able to manage and prioritise funding to ensure activities are aligned with Defence and government priorities.