THE HON ANDREW HASTIE MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR DEFENCE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR DEFENCE INDUSTRY
SHADOW MINISTER FOR DEFENCE PERSONNEL

STATEMENT
LABOR LAUNCHES YET ANOTHER DEFENCE REVIEW

Friday 6 December 2024

The Albanese Government is yet to disclose how long their review into the troubled Australian Submarine Agency (ASA) will take following damning survey results into Labor’s newly created agency tasked with delivering AUKUS.

The Defence Minister, in an interview this morning, assured that Labor’s review into the ASA would be “short” and “sharp”. But we know what that means.

Last time Richard Marles promised a “short, sharp” review into Australia’s surface combatant fleet, it took Labor more than 300 days, with the Albanese Government’s response sitting in the Minister’s in-tray for longer than it took for the review to be written.

Meanwhile, we are still waiting on Labor’s response to the Defence Estate Audit, 466 days on from when it was announced. It has now taken the Albanese Government nearly a year to respond to a review that took just four months for the independent leads to complete.

Despite repeatedly warning of the most dangerous strategic environment since the Second World War, the Defence Minister continues to dither and delay – overseeing extended reviews, cutting Defence spending and degrading capability.

Instead of commissioning yet another review, Labor should be getting on with the job. Our US and UK partners are depending on us to meet our AUKUS commitments, and we don’t have a moment to lose.

This is just another case of a weak and lethargic Albanese Government refusing to make the tough calls and show leadership in Defence.

[ENDS]