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A former deputy chief of the RAAF has called for more “openness” from Defence, claiming it is “handicapping” industry with “obscure information blockages”.
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Speaking at the annual Defence Connect Budget Lunch last week, chairman of the Institute for Integrated Economic Research (IIER), Air Vice Marshal (Ret'd) John Blackburn AO, lamented the lack of communication between Defence, industry, and academia on key projects.
Blackburn, who served as deputy chief of the RAAF from 2005 to 2008, pointed to a lack of detail provided to primes and SMEs in relation to project schedules.
“If you're sitting on the outside trying to understand where Defence is going, it's incredibly difficult,” he said.
“If you're an SME and your funding roadmap is fairly short, you're in a dire [situation].
“What I've learnt is that within Defence, the understanding of how business works and the reality of it is not there.”
The retired AVM stressed the need for "openness” and a renewed emphasis on strengthening co-operation with industry, which he said have been “handicapped” by “obscure information blockages”.
“We know of projects that have been delayed over the past three years and they haven't notified it because they keep the [initial operational capability] date the same,” he continued.
“That's a terrible way of dealing with industry partners."
Blackburn’s remarks formed part of two key discussions at the Defence Connect Budget Lunch, with Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price and shadow minister for defence industry Matt Keogh also weighing in on current challenges within the sector.
Minister Price reaffirmed the government’s commitment to bolstering local industry participation across acquisition and sustainment programs.
The minister stressed that it is “not enough” for global defence primes to comply with AIC objectives as a “box ticking exercise”, instead calling for a targeted approach to addressing local capability gaps.
“We have to keep focusing on the gaps and what it is that we need to build at home to keep our nation safe,” Minister Price said.
Minister Price acknowledged that given the evolving regional situation, the government may need to select a “sole source” for defence projects.
However, she warned that in such scenarios, primes would not get an “easy ride”.
Minister Price said she would “not be afraid to use the big stick” if primes fall short of their obligations.
[Related: ‘No easy ride for primes’: Defence holds firm on AIC targets]
