Two links for those who, earlier in the thread, dismissed concerns expressed by Bushranger 71 and others about the high prices and high operating costs of the rotary wing (non)assets the ADFs is(n't) currently employing.
Defence outlines worries over dwindling budget at a time forces are in demand | The Australian
The department, set a long-term capped budget, remains concerned the government will look for further savings. "Defence consumes approximately 9 per cent of government outlays and is typically seen either as largely discretionary spending or at least more capable of being financially reshaped than other government agencies," the briefs state.
"Indeed, there still exists a view that . . . there is still 'plenty of fat' within Defence. These views, although ill-conceived, render Defence an obvious target for any major budget reshaping."
Diggers exposed as costs blow out | The Australian
ALMOST a third of the weaponry, armour, system and support upgrades promised to Australian troops in Afghanistan have encountered problems.
The Gillard government has been warned that these issues could result in delays or cost blowouts.
As parliament continues to debate Australia's role in Afghanistan, amid expectations of a greater number of casualties, it appears those on the front line remain dangerously over-exposed. In the middle of last year, after visiting Afghanistan for the first time, then defence minister John Faulkner ordered a force protection review, which was completed later last year and led to a $1.1 billion package of budget initiatives.
Did anyone else read the Defence Supplement in 'The Australian' a few days ago? ('The Weekend Australian', I think it was.) Lazy journalism at its worst, and the journalists at 'The Australian' should be ashamed of themselves - the so-called 'articles' on the current state of our defence forces were nothing but a series of press releases taken directly from defence industry handouts. Everything is 'on track' and hunky dory, with ships and helicopters all to be on line and working wonderfully well 'soon'.