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

STATEMENT
LABOR’S MISMANAGEMENT OF ASCA CONTINUES

Tuesday 11 February 2025

The Albanese Government’s disastrous mismanagement of the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) continues, with Labor announcing the agency will now be overseen by the Vice Chief of the Defence Force Group.

Defence is in shambles under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his lacklustre Defence Minister Richard Marles, with cuts to capability, lack of investment and a lack of clarity. All of this at the cost to Australian defence industry with many of our best and brightest defence entrepreneurs packing up shop and moving offshore.

Labor continues to wash their hands of all responsibility for their own commitments. The Albanese Government’s latest move demonstrates a complete lack of confidence in ASCA – the agency they promised would accelerate Defence capability at the last election.

We know that under Labor, small and medium defence enterprises were left blindsided after suddenly being told their involvement in Mission 1 was no longer required. Labor’s continued mismanagement of ASCA is representative of a government that has failed to deliver at a critical time for our country.

The Albanese Government’s failure to seriously invest in Defence is fuelling a readiness crisis within the Australian Defence Force. Successive reviews, delays, and cuts are harming capability, defence industry and Australia’s national security.

Labor cannot be trusted when it comes to defending Australia. Let’s get Defence back on track under a Dutton-led Coalition government.

[ENDS]