Media Releases

DUTTON DUDS NAVY WITH OFFSHORE PATROL VESSELS

July 27, 2021

The $3.7 billion Offshore Patrol Vessels program is the latest naval shipbuilding project in disarray under the Morrison Government, joining a long list of Defence projects which are now running a cumulative 68 years late.

In response to Labor questioning, the Department of Defence has confirmed that construction of the first two of the new OPVs is now six months behind schedule and will now not be delivered until March 2023.

It is clear the Morrison Government is incompetent when it comes to managing major Defence projects.

Given their track record, no one would be surprised if there were further schedule delays to the delivery of all 12 OPVs which would have significant implications for Australia’s border security operations.

Minister Dutton is the latest in a long line of Coalition Defence Ministers to preside over dozens of crucial Defence projects which are not being delivered on time or on budget including:

  • The Future Submarines are $40 billion over budget and running 10 years late.
  • The Future Frigates are $15 billion over budget and are running at least six years late.
  • The new Cape Class patrol boats are already running up to 16 weeks late due to the Government’s decision to use sub-standard Chinese aluminium.

As always, the Morrison Government’s serial mismanagement is leaving Australian Defence Force personnel without the capabilities they need to do their jobs.

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