John Faulkner (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | Hansard source

Yes. The government puts a very high priority on ensuring that the ADF has the equipment it needs to carry out its mission. There is no more serious issue than this. We must learn from past mistakes that have been made in defence procurement. Major acquisitions, of course, require careful consideration. Examining all relevant capability cost and schedule issues is essential, and I intend to ensure that we do take the appropriate time to consider all relevant issues when it comes to investing billions of taxpayer dollars in defence. Defence is continuing to progress a range of complex capability projects. My focus is on ensuring that we get both the process and the outcomes right.