Challenge for accountability in Defence procurement projects

The Australian Navy has been unable to respond to calls for help from ravaged hit Queensland because its three biggest ships are out of action over seaworthiness and safety concerns.

The ships are equipped with onboard hospital facilities, helicopter landing pads, massive cargo holds and heavy duty cranes, qualities designed to play a key role in natural disasters such as the recent flooding and Cyclone Yasi.

This follows the cancellation of a contract for six Landing Craft Mechanised (LCMs) because the 24.5m vessels were the wrong size to fit on their proposed motherships.

"We have historically too many very bad examples where projects have not been successful ending up with a capability we can't use or massive cost overrun," Defence Minister Stephen Smith said.

"The challenge now is to bring internal rigour and accountability within defence for those procurement projects," Mr Smith said.

HMAS Manoora and its 8500 tonne sister ship Kanimbla have been in "operational pause" since last September over seaworthiness and safety concerns.

So serious are the maintenance problems neither are expected to put to sea again, and will be decommissioned.

Experience learnt from Cyclone Larry meant that the most appropriate defence support would be air search and rescue using aircraft and helicopters, said a ministerial spokesman.

Navy could provide heavy landing craft and small amphibious vessels which could provide a "most appropriate and immediate response", the spokesman said.

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