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 20 August 2012:

For the period 1 January to 30 June 2012:

(1) Which submarines in the Royal Australian Navy fleet were fully operational and ready for tasking with a full crew complement and capable of completing Unit Ready Days and tasking Ready Days?

(2) How many actual sea going fully operational days were achieved by each submarine?

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

The Minister for Defence has provided the following answer to the Honourable Senator's question:

(1) Navy applies the definition of 'operating cycle' in unclassified responses to questions on the operational status of naval vessels. The operational status of submarines in accordance with this definition for the period 1 January to 30 June 2012 has been reported in the response to Senate Question on Notice 2058. As detailed in a written response to a similar question raised during the private briefing to the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade on 11 October 2011, Defence has not and does not use the term 'task ready days'.

(2) The actual sea going days achieved by each submarine is not disclosed for national security reasons. Defence continues to offer to provide more detailed information in private briefings to the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade.