Journalists claims of excessive travel to Spain off course

29 Jul 2010 By Chief of Navy

Media reporting on 28 Jul 2010 (“$1m bill for trips to ships in Spain”) suggested that Defence officials, including “Navy brass” have undertaken excessive travel to Spain over the past 30 months to monitor the Spanish Navantia-designed Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD) and Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) ship projects.

In all, since 2008, only six senior Navy personnel have travelled to Spain in relation to the AWD and LHD projects - all of these trips have been part of the formal delivery process or ceremonial directly associated with these new capabilities. As part of my emphasis on increased efficiencies it should be noted that most of the visits by the senior Navy personnel were undertaken in conjunction with other high level meetings and international engagement activities in Spain and other countries, rather than specifically to the shipbuilders associated with the Hobart Class AWD or Canberra Class LHD.

Other Defence personnel who are part of the Defence Materiel Organisation have also travelled to Spain over the past 30 months for a variety of reviews, working groups and other tasks as part of the formal delivery process for these highly complex projects. They will continue to do so until these new capabilities are delivered as key elements of ADF Force 2030.

You may be assured that I will continue to lead in finding efficient ways to do Navy business, while concurrently maintaining my focus on delivering Navy capability as effectively and cost-consciously as possible. In so doing, I am also focused on achieving the significant re-investment necessary to facilitate the best possible Force 2030 outcomes for all in Navy, present and future.