An Australian naval shipbuilding sovereign capability
5.1
The Coalition government's naval shipbuilding plan, published in May
2017, reiterated its commitment to developing an Australian naval shipbuilding
sovereign capability:
The Government is investing in a sovereign naval shipbuilding
and sustainment capability for the long-term, with the firm belief that as a
nation we are up to this challenge.[1]
5.2
The naval shipbuilding plan explained that possessing a naval
shipbuilding sovereign capability was a strategic national asset:
A productive Australian naval shipbuilding and sustainment
industry that is able to deliver affordable and achievable naval capability is
a strategic national asset. A sovereign capability to achieve that aim is the
Government’s clear priority.[2]
5.3
The committee heard evidence in support of an Australian naval
shipbuilding sovereign capability. The lack of a shared, clear definition of sovereign
capability, however, is an obstacle to achieving it. The way the term is
used in the Naval Shipbuilding Plan has not assisted in reaching such a
definition. Ideally, Australian companies, workers, and products should be
involved throughout the entire process. However, the committee heard that
there is some difficulty in maintaining local capability throughout key stages
of the process, such as the design stage. Further discussion focused on
mandating Australian involvement and content in projects, through maximising
participation or setting percentage targets specified in legislation or contracts.
5.4
This chapter examines support for an Australia sovereign capability and
Australia's involvement in the build and content of programs set out in the
naval shipbuilding plan. It examines existing legislation and procurement
requirements for Australian Industry Participation and concludes with a
discussion of the future use of Australian shipyards.
A sovereign capability
Definition of sovereign capability
5.5
The committee heard a range of definitions of the term 'sovereign
capability'. The naval shipbuilding plan outlined the government's
understanding of sovereign capability as an industrial capability so essential
that it is developed and supported only by Australian defence industry because
'overseas sources do not provide the required availability, security, or
warfighting advantages we need for the Australian Defence Force'.[3]
This translates to naval capabilities for the Australian shipbuilding industry.[4]
5.6
According to Austal, a sovereign (shipbuilding) capability 'is the
ability to design, build, sustain, upgrade and export Australian–built vessels,
in Australian shipyards by Australian workers'.[5]
Mr Singleton, CEO, Austal, advised the committee that in his view sovereign
capability means more than simply 'made in Australia':
It meant conceived, designed, supported and even funded out
of this country in a way that gave industry in this country the ability to act
as a prime contractor in the export of ships overseas. I think that's a very
laudable aim by the government, stated very clearly in the white paper, and I
still feel that that is an objective that we should be seeking to achieve.[6]
5.7
Mr Dean Rosenfield, Managing Director, Saab Australia suggested that a
definition of sovereign capability should include a focus on developing
something new that can be exported:
... it is about having that ability to design from first
principles and develop or build something that is for use by your nation and
then generates the export potential.[7]
5.8
Mr Mike Deeks, Managing Director, Forgacs Marine and Defence provided a
definition of a naval shipbuilding sovereign capability with four key elements:
design; construction; acceptance into naval service; and through-life
sustainment. These four elements have a number of supporting elements—the facilities and
infrastructure, skilled workforce recruitment and training, supply chain
development and management, and research and development. Within these elements
are capabilities that support Australia's ability to:
...exercise its rights as a sovereign state, in terms of
ensuring its security and stability and protection of its national interests in
whatever political or security environment [Australia] may find [itself] at the
time.[8]
5.9
Mr Deeks identified these capabilities as:
...design intellectual property; construction skills,
equipment and facilities; technical understanding of the design philosophy;
detailed technical knowledge of ship systems and equipment; reliable and
assured access to original equipment manufacturers to ensure detailed design
knowledge and spare part availability; and sufficient knowledge, IP, skills and
equipment to allow upgrades and enhancements throughout the life of the vessels...[9]
5.10
At the recent Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee's
estimates hearing on 29 May 2018, Rear Admiral Gregory Sammut, Head Future
Submarine Program, commented that there was no single definition of sovereign
capability. However, there are many things Defence is doing to achieve
sovereignty, including understanding from Defence's past experiences with the
Collins Class submarine program. He stated that in relation to the Future
Submarine program, sovereign capability consists of three legs on a tripod:
-
Part one—the
ability to build the submarines domestically, to manage their upkeep, update
and upgrade within Australia. This requires the ability to deploy intellectual
property appropriately for that purpose (and rights over intellectual property).
-
Part two—the
transfer of technology into Australia so that there is the means to make the
building, upkeep, updates and upgrades work well.
-
Part three—the
involvement of Australian industry to make sure that there are resident
capabilities in the country to do the work.[10]
5.11
The range of definitions of 'sovereign capability' offered by witnesses
and submitters reveal some common areas of agreement of what sovereign
capability is, or could be. Witnesses and submitters also offered general
support for sovereign capability.
Support for a sovereign capability
5.12
The government's 2016 Defence Industry Policy Statement states that
securing sovereign industrial capabilities is important for Australian defence
security. This is because some capabilities are so important to Australian
Defence Force (ADF) missions that only an indigenous industry can provide the
required security assurances. Therefore, it is 'critical that the industry base
associated with these capabilities is maintained and supported by Defence as
sovereign industrial capabilities'.[11]
A similar reference to providing the ADF with security that cannot be provided
by overseas sources can be found in the naval shipbuilding plan's statement on sovereign
capability.[12]
5.13
The Hon Malcom Turnbull MP, Prime Minister further reinforced the need
for a sovereign naval shipbuilding capability stating:
... [it] is about national security and it is about economic
security. It is about security. It is about opportunity.[13]
5.14
Mr Graeme Dunk, Executive Manager, Australian Business Defence Industry
was supportive of building an Australian sovereign capability and the benefits
it would bring. He stated that:
[b]uilding sovereign capability will not only grow our
industry for future shipbuilding but also improve our capability in maintaining
and sustaining our own fleet.[14]
5.15
While statements by the government indicated that they were committed to
building a naval shipbuilding sovereign capability, witnesses noted that
substantial sovereign capability already exists in Australia both in defence
and commercial sectors.
5.16
For example, at the 24 May 2017 Senate Finance and Public Administration
Legislation Committee Estimates hearing, Mr Mark Lamarre, then Chief
Executive Officer, Australian Submarine Corporation Shipbuilding (ASC)
expressed support for the establishment of an Australian naval shipbuilding
sovereign capability.[15]
Lamarre said that Australia has an existing sovereign capability in the
government-owned ASC:
... the government have indicated that they are looking for
affordable, achievable outcomes for shipbuilding and sustainment. They want an
industry that has been reformed and is secure, productive and cost competitive.
ASC, as Australia's only builder of complex surface combatants, is sovereign,
of course. We are headquartered here and we are owned by Australia...[16]
5.17
Mr Peter Horobin, Submarine Institute of Australia, agreed that 'there
is a substantial sovereign capability in the country right now and it is pretty
close to cutting edge', however, he cautioned that this capability would be
lost if it was not utilised.[17]
Dr Renilson, President, Australian Division, Royal Institution of Naval
Architects, also noted his concern that if existing Australian sovereign design
capabilities are not utilised, they will be lost:
If you do not use them then you will lose them. If Australia
has a habit of constantly going overseas for such services then it will be
difficult to keep the naval architects within Australia current and trained up
and able to assist.[18]
5.18
Leading examples of Australian sovereign capability that Australian
companies own and export around the world include Saab's 9LV combat management
system, Austal's aluminium ships, and Incat's high speed passenger ferries. In
chapter 6 of this report, the committee discusses Australia's thriving
exports industry and support available to SMEs to consolidate further
capability in the industry.
Australian content and build
Involvement in the design phase
5.19
A persistent theme arising in the evidence was the importance of
Australian industry involvement in the design stage of defence programs. This involvement
places Australian industry in the best position to undertake sustainment and
repair of ships, and to enable industry to increase its knowledge of the design
process for future projects.
5.20
Mr Deeks, Forgacs, supported Australian involvement in the entire
shipbuilding process to enable the most qualified and knowledgeable individuals
to undertake ship maintenance later on. He stated that the best people to do
this are those who have:
...built up a body of knowledge and understanding of the build
techniques and the design philosophy. Similarly, the remaining service life of
an asset is subject to periodic survey and assessment of the remaining cost of
ownership, including enhancements and modernisation versus replacement costs.
The know-how and 'know why' behind a submarine or frigate design means that
local industry will be able to provide enduring support to such a complex
asset.[19]
5.21
Dr Martin Renilson, President, Australian Division, Royal Institution of
Naval Architects, agreed that Australia should be involved in the design of its
ships, to assist with repair and maintenance later on. Dr Renilson explained
that:
[It] would be very difficult...to have a situation where
Australia does the repair and maintenance but is not involved in the design.
...
If it is only involved in the repair and maintenance you can
understand that the people involved would not get to see the big picture and
would not understand the whole issues about the ship design when they are
conducting maintenance. That in itself can be really quite dangerous if they
are making modifications to the ship but do not actually have the original
design philosophy; if they only have the ship and they are trying to make
modifications. Ships are modified during their lifetime as well as repaired. If
you are not involved in the original designing it would be much more difficult
to safely make the changes or modifications.[20]
5.22
Australian industry is involved in the design process conducted by Naval
Group, with Australians travelling to France.[21]
Naval Group staff will travel to Australia to train Australian industry in
building the submarines. Defence will bring white collar workers from Naval
Group to Adelaide to train and skill the Australian workforce.[22]
5.23
At the 20 June 2017 Canberra public hearing, Rear Admiral Greg Sammut,
Head Future Submarine Program, Department of Defence, explained that
Australians are currently building both project management and design skills
and ensuring the transfer of information and sovereign capability in the
process. He stated:
There are project management skills that we are currently
building up now in terms of our engagement with Australian industry. Also, our
engagement with [Naval Group] in terms of understanding the specifics of the
submarine design process that they apply. An important part of this, in
selecting [Naval Group], is to ensure that we do not introduce changes to their
design processes. It is the experience and skills they have in that design
process that we want to make sure is transferred to Australia, and particularly
into a company like the [Naval Group] Australia, such that we can be in a
position where the management of the program takes place from Australia.[23]
5.24
While Australians will be involved in the design stage of the future
submarine project, it may not be possible for Australia to create and sustain
its own design industry into the future. At the 29 May 2017 Senate Foreign
Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee Estimates hearing, Rear
Admiral Greg Sammut, argued that it is not possible for Australia to have a
sovereign 'design' capability in relation to submarines. This is because an
indigenous design capability is a large and expensive capability that requires
regular use to be of long-term benefit. He suggested it is difficult for any
one country to maintain the capacity to design a new submarine from 'scratch'. For
this reason Defence sought an international partner for support.[24]
Australian industry build and
content
5.25
The committee heard that primes managing defence programs should be
required to involve Australian industry in these projects. However, there was
no clear or consistent understanding of what Australian involvement should
mean. No common definition of “involvement”, “content” or “participation” was
presented in evidence, and the evidence revealed sharp differences between
supporters of minimum percentage targets for Australian industry involvement
and supporters of providing opportunities to maximise Australian involvement.
5.26
This lack of clarity about what constitutes Australian involvement means
that a project may be described as an 'Australian build' even though it is
comprised of substantial foreign content. As Mr Glenn Thompson, Assistant
National Secretary, Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) informed the
committee:
Our experience from what we know on Collins ... the figure was
70 per cent local content, but we know for a fact that many of those
companies that were deemed to be local in actual fact sourced the content
offshore.[25]
5.27
Mr Andy Keough, Chief Executive, Defence SA, explained that the
distinction between build and content was important, particularly in how Australian
involvement is measured. He explained that the value-add component of the
content should not be conflated with the labour component of the content. He
added:
In some cases, you may have components that are manufactured
overseas. They may be shipped to Australia and assembled in Australia and the
entire component is then assessed as being AIC [Australian Industrial
Capability], whereas in fact the value-adding component of the labour to
assemble the parts is only a small component of the total cost of that
component. [26]
5.28
The AMWU suggested one way of measuring Australian content might be the
calculation used by Naval Group in its Australian Industry Capability (AIC) Plan,
based only on the value 'that has been added by Australian companies and their
workers in Australia'. The calculation used in Naval Group's definition of
'Australian Industrial Content' excluded any imported goods and services from
Australian content calculation.[27]
5.29
Although the government has stated that it is committed to
maximising Australian involvement and a local build of defence programs, it has
not attributed a minimum percentage figure of Australian involvement that
primes must meet. Nevertheless, the Minister for Defence Industry advised that
the government considered a local build to be 'about 60 per cent or above'.[28]
The Minister for Defence Industry explained the government is seeking to
maximise as much local work as possible, rather than seeking to limit it to a
minimum requirement.[29]
The Minister has not explained why the government believes that reaching a
minimum would inhibit striving to reach a maximum.
5.30
Mr Thompson, AMWU, expressed concern that if the government only
encouraged primes to aim for maximum participation, primes may argue that
Australian SMEs are unsuitable and use their own international supply chains.
He stated that despite Defence's advice to Naval Group that it has to maximise
Australian participation and include the supply chain into its project, there
was nothing to enforce this.[30]
5.31
Ministers for defence industry from Western Australia, South Australia
and Victoria, provided a joint submission stating their shared view on
achieving Australian involvement in the future submarine program. The Ministers
called for 'a minimum level of Australian participation by value of the
contract entered into'.[31]
5.32
Mr John O'Callaghan, Executive Director, Australian Industry Group
Defence Council, was supportive of focusing on maximising Australian
involvement, stating that it was essential to make sure Defence contracts
'locked in' maximising that content.[32]
5.33
Dr Michael Green, Executive Director, Victorian Department of
Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources suggested that there are
other measures that could be used to promote Australian industry participation.
For example, Australian industry value-add and the number of employees or hours
worked on a project in Australia. Noting the difficulty of measuring
Australian content in relation to intellectual property, Dr Green
suggested that a significant build-up of capability around design and
engineering beyond ‘just operating and sustaining vessels’ in the country was
desirable.[33]
Mandated Australian industry
participation
5.34
Evidence presented to the committee supported government mandated
Australian industry participation in defence projects. Mr Thompson, AMWU,
reiterated his concern that the government had not stipulated precise definitions
or percentage figures of Australian industrial involvement in defence programs.
He called for the government to mandate Australian industry participation,
stating that the government did 'not come out hard enough' and was 'not
transparent enough on what they mean by maximum participation and local
content'. [34] Mr
Thompson called for the government to provide clarity on the meaning of
Australian industry participation and 'what they are doing and mandating in
relation to Australian content and supply chain'.[35]
5.35
The Victorian government's submission suggested that local content be
mandated similar to the Victorian Industry Participation Policy (VIPP).
According to the submission, mandating local content maximises the benefit for
the nation and will have a positive multiplier effect—creating business opportunities,
underpinning ongoing direct economic benefits through jobs and supply chain
creation throughout the county.[36]
5.36
At the Adelaide public hearing Dr Green restated the Victorian
government's position that those measures should be in place to establish a
'robust and achievable local content and for that to be increased over time'.
The increase could be achieved:
...both through the life of each vessel
and as the vessels get built and for that to be a critical part of the overall
plan and contractual arrangements to deliver these programs.[37]
5.37
The Hon Greg Combet, Victorian Defence Industry Advocate agreed, noting
that ultimately it was up to the Commonwealth government to mandate that local
content and participation is achieved. He added:
...it will require appropriate determination on the part of the
Commonwealth and Defence to ensure that a rigorous approach to the achievement
of Australian industrial capability and therefore local content is achieved.[38]
5.38
Mr Serge DeSilva-Ranasinghe, President, Australian Industry &
Defence Network Western Australia, also supported the enforcement of a local
industry requirements stating:
We [Australian Industry & Defence Network WA] would like
to see enforcement of the sovereign industrial capability that demonstrates,
based on evidence, that Australian companies and SMEs are actually getting
substantial opportunities.[39]
5.39
Mr Keough, Defence SA, suggested that the government set mandated
requirements. However, he acknowledged that in some projects it may be
difficult to reach a high bar of Australian industrial content due to the
nature of the work. This would come down to the particular platform—the more complex the
project, the harder it is to drive local AIC. Also, the technologies may not be
available in Australia.[40]
Mr Keough, added:
Certainly for OPVs it is fairly simple—you should have a very
high level of AIC for that. In submarines, particularly in the first stage, it
may be a lot lower AIC and then that is built on. Really, that is an issue for
the government to look at, make its decision on and set the leadership on. It
needs to set the floor, that floor needs to be in the contract and anything
above that is a significant bonus to Australia.[41]
5.40
Witnesses suggested that the government could mandate Australian
industrial participation through contracts between primes and the government to
lock in sovereign capability and local industry involvement. Mr Deeks, Forgacs
Marine and Defence, argued that:
As the government moves forward with major ship and sovereign
acquisition programs, they must put in place contractual mechanisms and
intergovernmental agreements and treaties that ensure we have access to, and
ownership of, the relevant information to ensure the above-mentioned elements
are in our control.[42]
5.41
Mr Keough, Chief Executive, Defence SA, also suggested that Australian
industry requirements be contained within contracts as 'ultimately, the AIC
content must be specified in the contract if you are going to have any aspirations
of delivering against it'. Otherwise, it would be based on the contractor's
best endeavours.[43]
He emphasised that:
[t]he contractor's responsibility is not to develop the
Australian industry. They are there to deliver a submarine, to deliver a
product, on time to a specified price to meet a certain capability, so [the]
contract [must] make sure that [it is added] in the contractor's best interest
to make sure they hit certain targets that we specify.[44]
5.42
Further, there must also be an incentive for the contractor to comply as
it would be naïve to suggest that technology and intellectual property would be
transferred from France to Australia without any incentives or motivations simply
to assist Australian industry.[45]
5.43
Some witnesses recommended going beyond simply minimum percentage
targets, and called for a focus on ensuring that the government attains
sovereign control and intellectual property of these naval ship programs. Mr
Deeks explained that:
The Australian industry participation should be viewed by the
government from a position of the sovereign capability that they wish to have
in Australia. It is not a matter of a percentage of Australian industry
participation; it is a matter of identifying the key capabilities, the key competencies,
the key controls that the Australian government sees as essential in the
operation and maintenance of the submarines through their entire life.[46]
5.44
Mr Deeks also suggested that the government be careful to make sure that
it has 'an avenue through which it can direct or dictate the terms of the
subcontractors supplying into the Future Submarine project to ensure that
[Australia] retain[s] that sovereign capability'.[47]
Sovereign capability can be managed through the control of IP, or by ensuring a
level of Australian industry participation.[48]
Mr Graeme Dunk also supported this position stating that ' Australia needs to
have access to all intellectual property in order to [...] address its
sovereignty concern'.[49]
5.45
At the 20 June 2017 Canberra public hearing, Mr Brent Clark, Senior
Advisor to the Chairman, Naval Group Australia, explained that in the case of
the future submarine program:
[T]he background [IP] obviously resides with the company in
France; the foreground IP obviously will reside with the Commonwealth. And
there is an arrangement in place to transfer that IP.[50]
5.46
Rear Adm. Sammut, Department of Defence, further explained that:
Any new information that is developed, as is stated in the
treaty and elsewhere in our arrangements with [Naval Group], becomes foreground
IP, ownership of which vests with the Commonwealth upon its creation.[51]
90 per cent Australian build?
5.47
The National Shipbuilding Plan and related documents do not contain
official percentage targets of Australian participation rates for building. The
committee heard evidence throughout the inquiry that the failure of the
government to set clear targets caused confusion amongst stakeholders. Two
examples of confusion created by the government, in relation to submarines and
frigates, are discussed below.
5.48
For example, at the 4 April 2017 Adelaide public hearing, speculation
about what percentage of the future submarine build would take place in
Australia was discussed. In the previous month, Naval Group advised that over
90 per cent of the future submarine build would occur in Australia.[52]
On the day of the committee's hearing the Minister for Defence Industry stated
that 60 per cent of the future submarines project build would take
place in South Australia. The Minister confirmed that the figure of a
'90 per cent' Australian build was provided by Naval Group, not the
government.[53]
5.49
The confusion around the percentage of Australian involvement remained
during the Adelaide hearing. Mr Thompson, AMWU, noted his surprise at comments
made by the Minister for Defence Industry on radio that morning, regarding a
change from a 90 per cent Australian build to a 60 per cent South
Australian build. Mr Thompson suggested that these comments highlighted
the general confusion about Australian participation:
The point that I would make is this, once again: there is no
clear public position in relation to the [Request for Tender]—for example, on
frigates. It talks about maximum Australian participation; it does not mandate
or it does not put any emphasis on the French, for example, or on whoever it is
going to be on the frigates, to engage Australian companies to assist
Australian companies to be supply-chain ready.[54]
5.50
At the 20 June 2017 Canberra public hearing, and again on 7 June 2018,
Mr Clark explained that the 90 per cent figure mentioned by the
former Naval Group Australia CEO pertained to assembly and production
activities only and not the overall content of the submarine.[55]
5.51
In 2017 Mr Clark stated that he could not confirm what the percentage of
Australian industry content would be as Naval Group were still working with the
Commonwealth and the Department of Defence. This work included examining the
Commonwealth and Department of Defence 'system by system to look at what can be
done on the submarine from an Australian industry capability perspective'.[56] Naval Group would aim for a
minimum target of 60 percent industry involvement.[57] Naval Group expected to
complete the work and to refine a figure of Australian industry content by the
end of 2017 early 2018.[58]
Mr Clark advised the committee that Naval Group would provide a figure for
local content by the end of 2017.[59]
However, at the committee's hearing on 7 June 2018, Mr Clark was still
unable to provide a figure.[60]
5.52
Defence Teaming Centre supported the requirement for maximising
Australian industry involvement in the future submarine program, suggesting
that a more sophisticated solution was required than simply determining a
percentage of involvement; this would involve a determination of the meaning of
sovereign capability:
The Federal Government must then focus on developing a
transparent plan with [Naval Group] as to how and when the knowledge and skills
to build the Future Submarine will be transferred to Australians. Australia
will need to make itself ready for this knowledge and skills transfer.[61]
5.53
At the June 2018 hearing, Naval Group was questioned again in relation
to the former CEO's comment about a 90 per cent Australian build. Mr Clark
clarified that his predecessor's comment applied to production and not the
overall Australian industry content. Mr Clark confirmed that he could not find
any documentation produced by the company that referred to 90 per cent local
content. [62]
5.54
Naval Group has still not provided a figure about the level of content
it will use for the submarine program. Mr Clark advised that Naval Group was
still in the design phase and would be in a better position to answer the
question during the procurement phase. Mr Clark advised that the company has
been engaging with Australian industry for nearly three years and the number of
prequalified suppliers is growing rapidly. He expressed confidence in what Naval
Group has seen from an Australian industrial perspective.[63]
5.55
Relatedly, the Minister for Defence Industry’s reference to a minimum 60
per cent local build (which he defined as Australian content), attracted media
attention following the release of unclassified sections of the future frigate
program’s request for tender documents on 25 January 2018. The documents were
subject to a protracted FOI process which included a review by the Information
Commissioner. The media reported that the future frigate program would achieve
a minimum 50 per cent local content.[64]
The documents stated that the Air Warfare Destroyers (AWD) had achieved
Australian contract expenditure of 60 per cent across the whole program, and
anticipated that the frigates would achieve the same or higher. Minister
Pyne referenced the level of Australian content in the AWD (beyond 60 per cent)
and the Collins (beyond 80 per cent) programs as basis for his claim.[65]
5.56
Mr Keough, Defence SA, warned at the April 2017 hearing, when the Naval
Shipbuilding Plan had not yet been released, that without a naval shipbuilding
plan containing official percentage targets, the confusion and discussion would
continue.[66]
Unfortunately, as the two examples outline above illustrate, this remains the
case following the release of the naval shipbuilding plan, as plan does not
contain percentage targets.
Contracts underway
5.57
Initial contracts for the future submarine program have been signed. As
at 20 June 2017, Naval Group had signed approximately $11 million worth of
contracts with 91 Australian subcontractors.[67] At that time, the value of
contracts with French companies exceeded the value of contracts with Australian
companies. This increased to 107 subcontracts valued at about $26 million at
the end of May 2018.[68]
The committee heard that the number of contracts signed with Australian
companies exceeded the number of contracts signed with French companies over
the same period.
5.58
However, without similar figures available to the committee on the
number of contracts signed with French companies, the committee cannot fully
understand how capabilities are being developed.[69]
2017 Naval Group (formerly DCNS) Australian Industry Capability Plan
5.59
Although the government has not specified any percentage targets (or
other measures) for Australian industrial requirements, tenderers bidding for
defence contracts must provide an Australian Industry Capability (AIC) plan that
sets out how it will maximise Australian industry involvement should it be
successful in winning the tender. The successful tenderer then develops a
subsequent AIC with the government.
5.60
Non-corporate Commonwealth entitles under the Public Governance,
Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act) (which includes the
Department of Defence), require successful tenderers to prepare and implement
AIC plans for Commonwealth tenders of $20 million or more.[70]
The Department of Defence procurement policy manual outlines the requirements
of the AIC plan:
[T]enderers are required to submit an AIC plan which sets out
the tenderers’ Local Industry Activities (LIAs) to meet the specified Industry
Requirements of the procurement. Tenderers are required to describe the
benefits of their LIAs, including the significance of the work, the skills and
knowledge that will be transferred, the training that will be provided, the new
technologies or innovations that will be introduced, and the contribution to
Australian company competitiveness, including access to global supply chains,
technical data and intellectual property.[71]
5.61
Tenderers are not required to specify a percentage target of Australian
industrial involvement, only how they will endeavour to maximise Australian
involvement.
5.62
On 30 September 2016, the government and Naval Group signed the Design
and Mobilisation contract. The contract required both parties to produce an AIC
plan to commence the design phase of the program.[72]
This is in addition to the AIC plan produced earlier by Naval Group as part of Competitive
Evaluation Process (CEP) in accordance with the PGPA Act, outlined above. The
committee was advised in October 2017 that delays in developing the AIC plan
related to establishing security arrangements for Australian companies.[73]
The government was not provided with a final AIC plan by the Naval Group until
April 2018.[74]
Defence has advised that it is working towards releasing the AIC plan by
October 2018.[75]
As the committee does not have access to the AIC plan provided to Defence by
Naval Group in April 2018, the committee provides some commentary on the
contents of the earlier AIC plan.
5.63
Due to delays in preparing the final AIC plan, the committee initially sought
access to the AIC plan submitted as part of the CEP. At the 4 April 2017
Adelaide public hearing, a copy of the redacted March 2017 Naval Group AIC plan
for the future submarine program was tabled.[76]
5.64
The 2017 AIC plan outlined Naval Group's plans, procedures and
responsibilities for the management of Australian Industry Capability during
the future submarine program.[77]
One interpretation of the document is that any final decision as to the
involvement of Australian companies, products and services in the Future
Submarine project is a matter for Naval Group, not the Australian government. For example, Mr Thompson, AMWU, expressed concern that
the Naval Group AIC plan suggested that Naval Group had the decision making power
about what could and could not be built in Australia, noting that when Naval
Group 'was announced as the preferred design partner, the French community were
dancing on the streets in relation to
the establishment of 4,000 jobs in France'.[78]
5.65
At the 20 June 2017 Canberra public hearing, Mr Clark stated that 'the
Commonwealth always has the final say in these matters'.[79] Mr Clark also stated that he
would not provide the committee with the percentage figure of Australian
involvement outlined in the CEP 'because the plans that were done during the
CEP obviously involved a lot of assumptions'.[80] In a response to questions on
notice, Naval Group confirmed that the 90 per cent figure discussed by the
former CEO was not provided in any Australian industry participation plan
documentation.[81]
5.66
Mr Clark explained that the CEP was quite a short process and Naval
Group was not able to do a robust analysis of Australian industry during this
period. However, since Naval Group had been selected as the designer of the
future submarine program, Naval Group has 'spent a considerable amount of time
travelling around Australia and looking at Australian industry and the capabilities
and understanding what exists'.[82]
According to Mr Clark, this process would provide a robust, defensible and
justifiable percentage for the committee.[83]
5.67
On 29 June 2017, the government announced changes to the AIC template to
strengthen the requirement for Australian involvement in Defence projects. The
new template is intended to require defence companies to outline how and where
they will involve Australian industry before bids are considered.[84]
5.68
The Defence Teaming Centre stated that they would expect the
Commonwealth to seek supplementary information from Naval Group to ensure its
AIC plan meets the new template requirements.[85]
The AMWU stated that it reserved its judgement on the efficacy of the AIC plan.
It welcomed the 'strengthened guidelines and additional focus on using defence
procurement to foster longer term investment and diversification' but was less
optimistic about the new AIC plan requirements. It noted that 'without pressure
from government, the plans required under the AIC plan may just become hollow
promises sitting forgotten on a government website'.[86]
5.69
On 12 February 2018, the Senate ordered that government
table the AIC plan submitted by Naval Group to the Department of Defence as
part of the CEP for the submarines.[87]
The Minister for Defence tabled the document on 10 May 2018. The
document, created in 2015, contained redactions on the grounds of public
interest immunity. There have been some criticisms about the material that
remains, not least that the Naval Group initially planned to use 1,700 ASC
employees.[88]
During the committee's hearing on 7 June 2018, Naval Group advised that the
assumptions made when developing the 2015 AIC plan had changed by the time it
completed a later plan in 2017. In particular, Naval Group were not aware of
the government's intention that the designer of the submarines would also build
the submarines.[89]
The Merchant Marine Act of 1920 (The Jones Act)
5.70
At the Adelaide public hearing, Mr David Singleton, Chief Executive
Officer, Austal, informed the committee about the United States Jones Act,[90]
which enshrines the United States' shipbuilding sovereign capability by
requiring all shipbuilding work to take place in the United States.[91]
Mr Singelton explained that:
The Jones Act is a piece of legislation in the United States
that requires that any commercial vessel that goes port to port in the US or
any military vessel in the United States is built in the United States. It also
requires that certain maintenance activities on military ships are also carried
out in US ports as well. So it is not possible by law in the United States to
build ships anywhere other than in continental US for defence purposes.[92]
5.71
Section 1 of the Jones Act outlines the purpose of the Act:
It is necessary for the national defense and for the proper
growth of its foreign and domestic commerce that the United States shall have a
merchant marine of the best equipped and most suitable types of vessels
sufficient to carry the greater portion of its commerce and serve as a naval or
military auxiliary in time of war or national emergency, ultimately to be owned
and operated privately by citizens of the United States; and it is declared to
be the policy of the United States to do whatever may be necessary to develop
and encourage the maintenance of such a merchant marine, and, in so far as may
not be inconsistent with the express provisions of this Act, the Secretary of
Transportation shall, in the disposition of vessels and shipping property as
hereinafter provided, in the making of rules and regulations, and in the
administration of the shipping laws keep always in view this purpose and object
as the primary end to be attained.[93]
5.72
Mr Matthew Primiero, an AMWU delegate, explained the impact of the
Jones Act on the shipbuilding industry:
The Jones Act in the US is anything built and sought in the
US. Any defence contract is done in the US with US labour. It allows outside
companies to bid for the work, but it puts a tax on them...[but they] still has
to use US labour.[94]
5.73
Mr Singleton explained that in order for Austal to undertake work for
the United States government, ships had to be built in the United States by
local workers. Austal currently has approximately four and a half thousand
employees in the United States.[95]
Mr Singleton explain that when establishing the Austal shipyard in the
United States:
We took 300 Australians from Henderson—from the design and
product areas at Henderson—to Mobile, Alabama to set up the facilities. They
designed not only the vessel and then modified it to the needs of the US Navy
but also the manufacturing system, which is extremely novel and the most
efficient manufacturing system for warships in the United States—and that was
all done with Australians in the US.[96]
5.74
Australia does not have an equivalent piece of legislation in relation
to mandating Australian industry involvement and content in the construction of
Australian naval vessels. The Australian Jobs Act 2013(Cth) requires
consideration of Australian involvement in procurements through Australian
Industry Plans, discussed above in relation to the Naval Group Australian
Industry Plan. However, the Act does not mandate the use of Australian
entities, only that Australian entities should have full, fair and reasonable
opportunity to bid for the supply of key goods or services for a project or a
new facility's initial operational phase.[97]
Australian industry participation
in the future submarine program
5.75
On 7 June 2018, the committee was advised Naval Group issued 1,623
requests for information to 541 Australian companies.[98]
This was an increase from the previous year where there had been 793 requests
for information to 174 companies.[99]
In 2017, it pre-qualified 52 Australian companies who were considered
appropriate to participate in supply chain activities for the future submarines
program.[100]
This number increased to 86 as at 1 May 2017.[101]
5.76
The committee notes the lack of comparable information on the French
side made it difficult for the committee to assess whether Australian or French
companies were getting the majority of contracts. Mr Clark from Naval Group Australia
agreed to provide the information to the committee as soon possible, noting the
inquiry's tight reporting date of 27 June 2018.[102]
Australian shipyards
5.77
The naval shipbuilding plan set out infrastructure upgrades required for
shipyards in both South Australia and Western Australia to enable construction
of programs outlined in the plan.
5.78
As outlined in chapters two and three, following Defence's assessment
that current shipyards in Obsborne and Henderson were inadequate and required
substantial upgrades to meet the requirements of the naval shipbuilding
programs, Defence contracted Odense Maritime technology to redesign the
shipyard at Osborne and allocated $100 million to improve the infrastructure at
the Henderson shipyard. The ANAO reported that work on the physical
infrastructure at the Osborne (south) shipyard was already underway and is on
track for the future frigate's commencement. The infrastructure requirements at
the Henderson shipyard for the offshore patrol vessel program are in the
process of being finalised whereas the shipyard requirements for the future
submarines at Osborne (north) are still at an early stage.[103]
Infrastructure for build of future
submarines
5.79
The committee heard that the future submarine program would not use the
existing Collins facilities in Techport, but that facilities for the build of
the future submarines will be built and designed to meet the requirements of
the program. Rear Adm. Sammut noted the facilities used by the Collins
submarines were designed and built in the early 1980s. It was necessary to
build a shipyard with the capacity to efficiently and effectively build a submarine
that is designed differently to the Collins one and 'can continue to build
submarines on a rolling acquisition program'.[104]
5.80
The committee was informed that the new facilitates for the future
submarines will be built around existing facilities used for the sustainment of
the Collins class. These new facilities will have to be built to match Naval
Group's design and build processes and provide Defence with 'the ability to
efficiently build submarines into the future'. Rear Admiral Sammut advised:
There has to be a new whole construction hall. There has to
be facilities for the building of modules. There will be land-based test sites
that are necessary and so forth that currently do not exist on the existing ASC
site.[105]
Sustainment
5.81
At the 20 June 2017 Canberra public hearing, the committee heard that
Defence was seeking to ensure that Australia obtains the sovereign sustainment
capability for the future submarines through the appropriate transfer of
information and technology. Rear Admiral Sammut advised that one of the lessons
learnt from the Collins class program was the importance of obtaining the
sovereign sustainment capability:
One of the key lessons of the Collins program was that,
regardless of the level of Australian industry involvement that we had, we did
not end that program with the sovereign sustainment capability. In other words,
the enduring industrial capability in Australia to look after the boats through
time. It is only at this point in the boats lives, through the improvements and
transformations that ASC have been largely involved in, that we have developed
that capability. So we are working on the mechanisms now to make sure the
transfer of that information and technology into Australian industry occurs so
that we have those outcomes.[106]
Future location of sustainment of
Collins
5.82
In April 2016 the Prime Minister stated that that all heavy sustainment
work would remain in South Australia:
Sustainment at the moment is done both between Henderson
[Perth] and Osbourne [Adelaide] and that would continue...it will be shared between
the two but the heavier work was obviously always going to be done here at
Osbourne, as it is now.[107]
5.83
Defence stated that there was no decision to move sustainment of the
Collins class from Adelaide. Rear Adm. Sammut stated that was no plan 'at this
stage' to change the current arrangements 'whereby full-cycle dockings are
conducted in Adelaide on the Collins submarines and other dockings an
maintenance activities are conducted in Western Australia.[108]
Defence was considering options on how best to manage the sustainment work of
the Collins fleet while embarking on the construction of the future submarine. Relevant
considerations include the necessary workforce expansion and the ability to
'grow the infrastructure in Adelaide to support the build of the submarine'.[109]
5.84
The issue was also canvassed at a recent estimates hearing on 29 May
2018. Information was sought from Defence on the Collins Class tasking
statement, which raised the prospect of relocating sustainment and full-cycle
docking activities to Western Australia.[110]
Mr Stephen Johnson, General Manager Submarines, explained that Defence was
exploring a variety of contingency plans with respect to full-cycle dockings
for the Collins Class submarines. Mr Johnson discussed types of considerations
involved in the year 2034 when:
...there is a good chance that we'll have two full-size
submarines in the water in the final test mode, there'll be a full-size
submarine in the building ways, there'll be a submarine in modules, there'll be
a submarine in the warehouse, so to speak, in terms of parts, a full-size
Collins and the first full-cycle docking. So we're sceptical that we have the
right footprint in that shipyard for seven submarines, for example.[111]
5.85
The committee heard that there will also need to be the capacity to increase
production.[112]
5.86
The Western Australian government argued that it made sense to transfer sustainment
of the Collins fleet to Western Australia because the fleet is already based
there at HMAS Stirling and the state has the capability and capacity to meet
sustainment requirements.[113]
Committee comment
5.87
An Australian sovereign capability in naval shipbuilding is vital for the
defence of the nation and the capacity of Australian industry to meet future
defence needs. However, without clearly defined and mandated requirements
outlining the level of Australian industry involvement and content required in
defence projects, the survival of an Australian naval shipbuilding industry with
sovereign capability is at risk.
5.88
The recent Industrial Capability Plan has moved in the right direction
by requiring an Australian company to have more than an ABN to be considered
local. The government states that it is committed to achieving 'maximum
participation' of local industry. But the phrase 'maximum participation' does
not describe what is being evaluated. Does this phrase refer to Australian
labour involvement in the build, the percentage of Australian products used, or
both? The committee did not receive advice about what constitutes Australian
involvement, or definitions of terms such as 'involvement', 'content' and
participation'. Clear and precise definitions agreed to by industry and the
government are essential in the examination of any mandated requirements. This
is a necessary first step in securing Australian sovereign capability for each
of the major projects set out in the government's naval shipbuilding plan.
5.89
The committee heard that mandating percentage targets for both
Australian involvement and content would be more effective at guaranteeing
Australian industry involvement than the government's commitment to achieving
maximum participation. It was also argued by some witnesses that setting only
minimum percentage targets might encourage shipbuilding companies to meet that
set target but not endeavour to exceed it. In regards to mandated targets, the committee
believes that further clarification is required from the government about the
definitions of key terms before decisions about quantitative or qualitative
metrics are mandated. In the meantime, this does not preclude projects from continuing
to be subject to close examination of how Australian industry will be utilised.
5.90
The committee believes that close examination of major defence contracts
between primes and the government is important to enable transparency around
taxpayer funded projects. For example, in relation to the future submarine
program, the treaty between the governments of France and Australia was
examined by the JSCOT and a report produced.
5.91
The committee has seen a copy of the draft Naval Group AIC plan for the
future submarine project, obtained through a Senate order for production. The
release of this draft document enabled the committee to examine the plan, and
discuss its contents with industry witnesses and the Department of Defence at
public hearings. The final document was provided to the Department of Defence
in April 2018. The committee notes that the Department has indicated an
intention to comply with the order for the production of the document. The
document is yet to be released to the committee or tabled in the Senate
5.92
Draft tenderer AIC plans submitted to the Department of Defence during
the competitive evaluation processes for Defence projects should be made
available for scrutiny by the Senate. This would occur after a successful
tenderer has been selected, but before the AIC plan is finalised between the
Department of Defence and the successful tenderer. This is preferable to using coercive
measures, such as an order for production of document in the Senate, before
such information is made available.
5.93
In addition, the committee believes there is value gained through
prescribing a formal, periodic Senate examination of these plans against actual
project progress to ensure that Australian industry commitments outlined in the
plan are met. The drafting and finalisation of contracts and AIC plans should
not take place behind closed doors. These processes should be transparent and
subject to parliamentary and public debate considering how much taxpayer money
is at stake.
Recommendation 7
5.94
The committee recommends that the government provide clear
definitions about what constitutes Australian involvement, content, and
participation, and how this will be achieved in each project outlined in the
government's naval shipbuilding plan. These definitions and requirements for
Australian industry involvement are to be stipulated in each contract.
Recommendation 8
The committee recommends that Australian Industry Capability
plans for new Defence naval projects are subject to examination by the Senate –
conducted in a manner similar to international treaties. The committee further
recommends that finalised Australian Industry Capability plans are subject to six
monthly reviews against progress by the Senate.
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