Steve Hutchins NSW, Australian Labor Party
2:52 pm
My question is to Senator Faulkner, Minister for Defence. Is the minister aware of media reports that the government is not going to proceed with defence base consolidation? Can the minister outline issues raised in the defence budget audit report, otherwise known as the Pappas report, and the approach the government is going to take in this important process?
John Faulkner NSW, Australian Labor Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council
I thank Senator Hutchins for his question. Yesterday, I did release the Pappas report, which is now on the defence website. I acknowledge that the report was the subject of an FOI request, but I did think it was important to release the report in the interests of transparency and accountability. I commend the report to senators. It is a comprehensive analysis of defence expenditure and possible reforms and savings. The report has informed the Defence Strategic Reform Program to save $20 billion over the next decade. Mr Pappas now chairs the Defence Strategic Reform Advisory Board, which will oversee the implementation of the reform program.
Governments of both political persuasions have in the past examined the possibility of consolidating the defence estate. This is not new. On 11 August 2007, in a doorstop interview, the then defence minister and later Leader of the Opposition, Brendan Nelson, stated:
What we’re—
the Howard government—
trying to do is to rationalise the number of bases we’ve got. We want larger bases; we want to make sure they’re close to the employment and job opportunities for families and partners.
Defence property consolidation has to get the balance right—the right balance in all issues involved: strategic and economic and the social impact on service families and communities. I do hope that both sides of the chamber acknowledge the critical importance of getting those balances correct.
Steve Hutchins NSW, Australian Labor Party
Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Can the minister inform the Senate—
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Senators:
Opposition senators interjecting—
Steve Hutchins NSW, Australian Labor Party
I will start again, Mr President.
John Hogg President
No, just continue, Senator Hutchins. You have 45 seconds remaining to ask a supplementary question.
Steve Hutchins NSW, Australian Labor Party
Can the minister inform the Senate what recent efforts have been taken to rationalise the defence estate as, for example, outlined in the 1997 Defence Efficiency Review and the 2003 force disposition review? What consolidation has been undertaken by the previous government and the current government?
John Faulkner NSW, Australian Labor Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council
Between 1996 and 2007, the previous government sold some 290 properties. They earmarked for disposal or sale facilities such as RAN ammunition depot, Sommerton; North Head Barracks; Jezzine Barracks, Townsville; Kelvin Grove training facility; and Torrens training depot—plus a raft of other properties. The closure of RAAF Glenbrook was a decision of the previous government and it will be closed next year. The Rudd government has disposed of a further 12 properties since 2007, and I can say that four properties are expected to be listed on the market early next year. The Pappas report has recommended further savings through the ‘super base’ model, and the government understands that there are wider strategic and social ramifications to be considered. (Time expired)
Steve Hutchins NSW, Australian Labor Party
Mr President, I ask a second supplementary question, and I would like the minister to continue answering my first if he would not mind. My second supplementary question is this: can the minister inform the Senate how defence will proceed with a broader approach to proposed defence base consolidation?
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Senators:
Opposition senators interjecting—
Steve Hutchins NSW, Australian Labor Party
I am trying to, Mr President. Can the minister give a guarantee to the Senate that the community’s views will be taken into account in this review?
Alan Ferguson Deputy-President
Mr President, I raise a point of order. Senator Hutchins is obviously unwell, and I am wondering whether or not you should give him the opportunity to leave the room to check his health.
Richard Colbeck Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
What an amazing recovery!
Brett Mason Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Education
It’s a miracle.
John Hogg President
Order! When we have silence—on both sides—we will proceed.
John Faulkner NSW, Australian Labor Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council
I would say to the Senate that this is an important issue. The Pappas report has recommended further savings through the super base model, but the government understands that there are wider strategic and social ramifications to be considered. The defence audit focused mainly on financial savings and it did not fully examine these broader issues. In my view, it would be irresponsible for the government to agree to base rationalisation without a more comprehensive examination of both national strategic requirements and community considerations. I can say that the government has not made any decisions on base consolidation and has not accepted the recommendations of the Pappas report on that issue. (Time expired)
Chris Evans WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate
Mr President, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.