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Thursday, 10 May 2012
Page: 3299

Defence: Submarines

(Question No. 1594)

Senator Johnston asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 5 March 2012:

For the period 1 July to 31 December 2011:

(1) Which submarines in the Royal Australian Navy fleet were fully operational ready for tasking with a full crew complement and capable of completing Unit Ready Days and Tasking Ready Days. (2) How many actual sea going fully operational days were achieved by each submarine.

Senator Chris Evans: The Minister has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1) As explained in responses to Senate Question on Notice No.759 of July 2011 and Questions on Notice No.34, No.37, and No.38 of from the October 2011 Estimates hearing, Navy applies the definition of 'operating cycle' in unclassified responses to questions on the operational status of naval vessels. The operational status of submarines in accordance with this definition for the period 1 July to 31 December 2011 has been reported in the response to Senate Question 1601. Over the same period, HMAS Waller was fully crewed until August 2011, after which the crew transferred to HMAS Collins for the remainder of 2011. HMAS Farncomb and Dechaineux were fully crewed over the period 1 July to 31 December 2011. As explained in the response to Question on Notice No.34, and in a written response to a similar question raised during the private briefing to the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade on 11 October 2011, Defence has not and does not use the term 'task ready days'.

(2) The actual sea going days achieved by each submarine is not disclosed for national security reasons. Defence continues to offer to provide more detailed information in private briefings to the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade.