David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister for Finance and Deregulation, upon notice, on 26 November 2012:

With reference to Collins Class submarine sustainment costs, which have doubled over the past few years, can copies of the following files be provided:

(a) RMS12/04985-01 OVERSIGHT OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESSES - Advice - ASC Pty Ltd - Sustainment of Collins Class Submarines;

(b) RMS12/04985-02 OVERSIGHT OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESSES - Advice - ASC Pty Ltd - Sustainment of Collins Class Submarines;

(c) RMS12/04985-03 OVERSIGHT OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESSES - Advice - ASC Pty Ltd - Sustainment of Collins Class Submarines;

(d) RMS12/00370-01 OVERSIGHT OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESSES - Advice - ASC Pty Ltd - Submarine Maintenance;

(e) RMS12/00370-02 OVERSIGHT OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESSES - Advice - ASC Pty Ltd - Submarine Maintenance;

(f) RMS12/00370-03 OVERSIGHT OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESSES - Advice - ASC Pty Ltd - Submarine Maintenance;

(g) RMS12/00441 OVERSIGHT OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESSES - Reporting - ASC Pty Ltd - Deep Blue Tech Pty Ltd; and 100 No. 126—27 November 2012

(h) RMS12/01173 OVERSIGHT OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESSES - Liaison - Government - Australian Submarine Corporation (ASC) Steering Committee.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The answer to the honourable senator's question is as follows:

Questions regarding the cost of Collins sustainment should be referred to the Department of Defence.

It is not appropriate to provide copies of the listed files as to do so would require significant resources to examine all the documents and to make an assessment as to whether the release of the documents would be in the public interest.