SENATOR MACGIBBON -I want to refer to an item on page 138. I do not want to get into a deep discussion on this, but it does seem that sustainability is the crippling defect of all the Australian defence forces, yet it comes up year after year in programs of objectives and the rest of it. What parameter is sustainability measured against? Is it against low level contingencies or what?

VICE-ADM. BEAUMONT -It is measured against a variety of factors. It is measured against our contingency plans, against low level contingencies, and eventually we will be testing it against the more substantial contingencies.

SENATOR MACGIBBON -How much time do you want before you get that far?

VICE-ADM. BEAUMONT -We have started the work and we obviously will tackle the most likely contingencies first. In fact, this year in the Chief of Staff's operational readiness directive we have asked for reporting on sustainability issues for certain contingencies. We have not been collecting that data in precisely that form before. That will help us to get a measure on what our sustainability is. The likely length of the operations has been set against different contingencies.

SENATOR MACGIBBON -There is no absolute policy to hold strategic stores of munitions and things like that, is there?

VICE-ADM. BEAUMONT -No. In fact, we are in the process once again of going through that and we believe the sustainability data will help us determine those sorts of stock holding policies.

SENATOR MACGIBBON -Part of sustainability would have to involve mobilisation planning, would it not?

VICE-ADM. BEAUMONT -Correct.

SENATOR MACGIBBON -And how much work has been done on mobilisation?

VICE-ADM. BEAUMONT -Once again, we only just started a couple of months ago.

SENATOR VALLENTINE -My question is on participation in ABCA activities. Could I have a list for 1990-1991 and 1991-1992 of the planned ABCA activities?

VICE-ADM. BEAUMONT -With pleasure.

MAJOR-GEN. GREY -I do not have a list of all the activities with me, but I can explain that a series of quadripartite working group meetings are conducted between major meetings, which are held about every two years. Within that program we exchange information; we look at the results that we have achieved within the ABCA program; we look to achieving greater inter-operability within that grouping; and also we look at our exercises to make sure of such things as combat net radios being able to talk to each other, that we have common training standards and that we can link those forces very readily. That is the nature of the program. I can take that question on notice and provide you with a list of the activities.

SENATOR VALLENTINE -Thank you.