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

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

(1) How many first and second pass approvals are planned for the remainder of the:

(a) calendar year; and

(b) financial year, including 'intermediate pass' approvals planned or approvals that may need to go back to government again after completion, and any instances of combined first and second pass approvals.

(2) For each approval in paragraph (1), what is:

(a) the project planned;

(b) its expected date; and

(c) the value in government expenditure that will flow.

(3) What is the total value of Defence Capability Plan projects deferred beyond the forward estimates since the Defence White Paper was finalised in 2009, using the current 2011-12 financial year as the reference point.

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:

(1) (a) As at 16 December, 46 projects* have been approved. (b) As at 16 December 28 projects* have been approved.

* Project approvals include first, second and other passes.

(2) (a) and (b) and (c) The planning of the progression and approval of the projects are located within the Public Defence Capability Plan (DCP).

The DCP is reviewed regularly to take account of changing strategic circumstances, new technologies and changed priorities, in the context of the overall Defence budget. The plan sets out the proposed investment in new capability, reviewed and revised as part of the financial year 2011-12 budget and subsequent DCP updates (most recent August 2011).

(3) In comparing the Draft DCP 2012-21 (released at the D&I Conference 2011) to the approved DCP 2009-19 (accompanying the Defence White Paper), the following 3 projects have deferred Year-of-Decision beyond the forward estimates: