Defence 2000 White Paper Our Future Defence Force
Hon. John Moore, MP Minister for Defence
Wednesday, 6th December, 2000 MIN341/00
New Opportunities for Australian Industry
The Minister for Defence, John Moore, said that the Defence White Paper, released today by the Federal Government,
provides unprecedented opportunities for the Australian defence industry sector.
“Defence 2000: Our Future Defence Force makes a long-term commitment to a first class Australian Defence Force in
partnership with Australian industry,” Mr Moore said.
“Specifically, industry will benefit from clear guidance contained in the White Paper. There will be greater
predicability in acquisition, planning and contracting which will facilitate a more certain, sustainable basis for
business planning.”
A Capability Plan, as outlined in the White Paper, has been developed on through-life costing estimates for the
different types of capability the Government believes the ADF should have. These estimates cover not only the initial
capital investment required, but personnel, operating, support and upgrade costs.
“To support the Capability Plan, Defence funding will increase by an average of 3 percent per annum in real terms over
the coming decade, and there will be an immediate increase of $500 million in 2001-02 and $1,000 million in the
following year.
“Enhancements to the ADF’s capabilities will provide specific opportunities in the construction of:
new ships; upgrading and modernisation of aircraft, ships and vehicles; and improvements to a range of
communications, command and control, and information systems.
“The Government retains a strong preference for building new ships in Australia,” Mr Moore said.
A project will start next year to replace the current Fremantle class patrol boats. The landing ship, HMAS Tobruk, will
be replaced in 2010, and the support ships, HMAS Westralia and Success, will be replaced in 2009 and 2015 respectively.
In addition to the extension of the Pacific Patrol Boat program, announced in October by the Prime Minister, at least
three air warfare destroyers are planned to replace the guided missile frigates after they leave service from 2013, with
construction planned to start around 2008. Planning will begin next year for replacements for the Fremantle Class Patrol
Boats, with the new boats scheduled to begin entering service in 2004-5. Two amphibious support ships, HMAS Manoora and
Kanimbla, are planned to be replaced by 2015.
“This constitutes a detailed, long-term plan on which Australia’s ship-building industry can develop its plans and
infrastructure.
“The White Paper points also to an increased Defence reliance on science and technology. This will create benefits and
employment opportunities for regional Australia, as the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) works with
industry to create and maintain a high technology Defence force.
“In particular, simulation and modelling systems, distributed across Australia, will be increasingly developed for force
training and evaluation.
The Minister said that the Coalition Government would continue with its policy of extracting the best possible outcomes
for Australian taxpayers.
“We will not limit the ADF to purchases from Australian industry alone, nor will we pay unreasonable premiums for
domestically-produced equipment and services. However, a significant amount – at least half – of new investment is
expected to be spent in Australia.
“Approximately $40 billion will need to be spent on capital investment over the next 10 years for capability maintenance
and enhancement.
“An important focus of the acquisition reform program in the new Defence Materiel Organisation will continue to be the
improvements of industry support arrangements. This will enable an effective, whole-of-life approach to be taken to
defence materiel and will simplify Defence’s interaction with industry
“Industry will be engaged earlier in the acquisitions process, which will help reduce unnecessary industry costs and
improve project turn-around-times.
The Minister said that Defence remains committed to outsourcing non-essential support functions. In particular, the
program of market testing most of logistic support functions will continue.
The Government is finalising an Innovation Action Plan which will provide opportunities for defence industry to develop
new ideas and encourage commercialisation of research into new technologies. It will support innovation in the defence
industry sector, including small-to-medium enterprises.
“The Government appreciates that industry has recently gone through a difficult time of rationalisation and
restructuring.
“The White Paper and the long term guidance provided by the Defence Capability Plan will consolidate and strengthen the
integral role of industry in Australia’s defence capability,” Mr Moore said.