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 21 March 2011:

(1) For the period 1 July to 31 December 2010:

(a) which submarines in the Royal Australian Navy fleet were non-operational; and

(b) for each submarine that was non-operational, what was the reason for its non-operational status.

(2) What was the cost of maintaining the six submarines for the periods:

(a) 1 July to 31 December 2010; and

(b) 1 January to 31 December 2010.

(3) What was the total cost of operating and sustaining the six submarines for the periods:

(a) 1 July to 31 December 2010; and

(b) 1 January to 31 December 2010.

(4) What were the crewing complements for each of the six submarines for each month in the periods:(a) 1 July to 31 December 2010; and

(b) 1 January to 31 December 2010.

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for Defence has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1) (a) and (b)

(i) HMAS Collins was non operational mid to end December 2010 undergoing a Certification Extension Docking

(ii) HMAS Farncomb was non operational July to December 2010 undergoing Intermediate Docking

(iii) HMAS Waller was non operational September to October 2010 undergoing an Intermediate Maintenance Activity

(iv) HMAS Dechaineux was non operational in December 2010 undergoing an Intermediate Maintenance Activity

(v) HMAS Sheean was non-operational throughout in Full Cycle docking and

(vi) HMAS Rankin was non-operational in layup, awaiting Full Cycle docking

(2) Cost of maintaining the six submarines for the periods:

(a) 1 July to 31 December 2010 – Maintenance plus inventory $155.4m

(b) 1 January to 31 December 2010 – Maintenance plus inventory $356.8m

(3) Cost of operating and sustaining the six submarines for the periods:

(a) 1 July to 31 December 2010

Operating costs($16.1m) + sustainment costs($155.4m) = $171.5m

(b) 1 January to 31 December 2010

Operating costs($31.2m) + sustainment costs($356.8m) = $388m

(4) Crewing complements for each of the six submarines for each month in the period:

(a) 1 July to 31 December 2010 –

(i) HMAS Collins, Waller and Dechaineux full complement throughout

(ii) HMAS Farncomb, Sheean and Rankin uncrewed throughout

(b) 1 January to 31 December 2010

(i) HMAS Collins full complement February to December 2010

(ii) HMAS Farncomb full complement January to February 2010 and then uncrewed for remainder of period

(iii) HMAS Waller full complement throughout

(iv) HMAS Dechaineux full complement throughout

(v) HMAS Sheean uncrewed throughout

(vi) HMAS Rankin uncrewed throughout