7. HEATHER ROY (Deputy Leader—ACT) Link to this
to the Minister of Defence
What is the monthly cost of keeping the Skyhawk and Aermacchi fleet airworthy and ready for sale, since Nos 2, 14, and 75 squadron were disbanded on 13 December 2001, and how much has been saved as a result of the scrapping of the air combat wing?
Hon PHIL GOFF (Minister of Defence) Link to this
Pending finalisation of the sales process, the current monthly cost is approximately $130,000. By contrast, the cost of operating the air combat wing, including capital charge and overheads, was over $16 million a month, or $207 million a year. Retaining an air combat wing would have required over $1 billion in capital expenditure and increases in the Defence Force operating baseline of over $1.2 billion over the next 10 years. As the member can see, the savings on selling obsolete aircraft that have never been used in a combat situation are considerable, and will continue to be.
Has the Government received any money for the sale of the Skyhawks and Aermacchis, which was triumphantly announced on 12 September 2005; if not, why not?
As I recall, it was leaked rather than announced. The short answer is, no, the money has not yet been received. But the member, and other members of the House, will be delighted to know that considerable progress is being made in the sales negotiations. The process through the State Department, required to get approval of the State Department, has commenced, and we have every confidence that that will occur when Congress resumes sometime in March.
Dianne YatesGiven the savings on the air combat force, what alternative investment of that money has been made in other areas of the air and defence forces?
The savings I referred to, plus, of course, the unprecedented investment of $3.3 billion in the long-term development plan, have enabled the Air Force to purchase two 757s, have enabled the progressive upgrading of the C130s and the P3 Orions, have enabled the planned purchase of replacement helicopters for the 40-year-old helicopters we inherited from the National Government, and have enabled us to purchase seven new ships over the next 2 years for the Navy, 321 Pinzgauer vehicles, 105 light-armoured vehicles, new tactical mobile radio equipment, and much else besides.
How many Skyhawks and how many Aermacchis have already been shipped to the United States following Minister Burton’s announcement on 12 September 2005 that: “Both fleets will be progressively shipped to the US over the next few months.”; if none, why not?
What reports were received by the Government on the utility of the A4s, which led to the decision to scrap the force?
The former National Government was advised as far back as 1998 in an air combat review that was chaired by Sir Wilson Whineray that the A4 Skyhawks were a marginal asset to any multinational coalition, and that their operational ability would continue to decline. Advice since then has confirmed that finding.
Did the Minister ask the Prime Minister to seek assistance from the head of the US Central Command, General John Abizaid, when she meets with him today, with the disposal of the Skyhawks and Aermacchis, or is his Government not the very, very good friends with the United States that the Prime Minister claims?
It would be very naive to expect a general—even a four-star general in the American armed forces—to try to instruct Congress how it should proceed with its approval process. I am amazed at that question.