Probe on Submarine Agency Governance. AUKUS Subs Flawed?
Former senior federal public servant Dennis Richardson will review "governance" at the Australian Submarine Agency, whose proposed task is to build AUKUS subs.
Some details are outlined in a report published today on Pearls & Irritations, John Menadue's public policy journal.
Interestingly the writer, economist Jeff Schubert, quotes former foreign minister Alexander Downer saying building the subs in Adelaide, his home town, is a "fairy tale."
Extracts from the article about Richardson’s review appear below.
"Dennis Richardson has been asked by Defence Minister Richard Marles to review “governance” at the Australian Submarine Agency tasked with building AUKUS submarines because a Public Service staff census has revealed very significant problems within the Agency with staff morale and internal communications. But, is he up to the task?
"Richardson has very wide experience in the government bureaucracy but none in economics or business.
"If he did he might recognise that the basic problem is probably that many staff members have morale problems because of concerns about the high-tech product – ie the production of AUKUS submarines in Adelaide! This would not be an unusual combination.
......
"Publicly, British journalist and historian Max Hasting reported in September that “a British defence insider” said to him: “I don’t think our UK submarine sector is remotely capable of delivering what the Australians want on time, on cost or to standard.”
"Former Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer, has called building nuclear submarines in Adelaide – his home-town – a “fairy-tale”.
"In addition, all the hidden signs are that AUKUS is a dud product with knowledgeable people admitting this among themselves but reluctant to be the first to loudly proclaim that the “emperor has no clothes”.
"What will Richardson conclude about AUKUS?
"Is he even capable of recognising the basic problem is a rotten product?
"Or, will he ignore problems like many did at Nokia and Theranos?"
