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Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy met with Luerssen Australia’s chairman, Tim Wagner, and senior officials at a Projects of Concern Summit to discuss the SEA 1180 Phase 1 – Offshore Patrol Vessels Project.
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The meeting was part of the Commonwealth’s ongoing plan to ensure Defence acquisitions get back on track.
According to the Minister for Defence Industry, both Luerssen Australia and the government committed to working together to address schedule delays.
The schedule delays surrounding the project first came to light in 2021, with the offshore patrol vessel contract listed as a Project of Concern in October 2023.
The project is observing delays in vessel and support system delivery.
“I thank company representatives and Defence officials for their work today in discussing the Arafura Class offshore patrol vessel project. Top-level focus is essential to ensure we are doing all we can to remediate areas of deficiency,” Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy said.
“Defence and our industry partner Luerssen Australia have committed to jointly address the significant schedule delays facing this project. Defence looks forward to working collaboratively with Luerssen Australia to get the project back on track.
“Today’s summit has provided the leadership, commitment, and oversight that is needed to work towards remediating this project.”
It is hoped that the Project of Concern process will remediate challenges facing Defence acquisition, providing ministerial oversight encouraging collaboration between Defence and industry.
The announcement came as Minister Conroy met with Airservices Australia, representatives from defence industry and members of the Department of Defence for a Projects of Concern summit on the Civil Military Air Traffic Management System project.
During the summit, participants agreed to finalise a contract change proposal and an integrated master schedule of the project by early 2024, Defence outlined.
The summit was also attended by Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King.
Minister Conroy welcomed the progress made during the summit.
“I am pleased there has been significant progress on delivering the remediation plan for the OneSKY-CMATS air traffic management project,” he outlined.
“Ministerial engagement through Projects of Concern summits is proving to be an effective way of motivating stakeholders to resolve complex issues.
“This is the fourth Projects of Concern summit held by the Albanese Government, demonstrating our commitment to working with industry to get defence projects back on track.”
Minister King said she expected that the project will be able to get “back on track.”
