Report damns navy and defence purchasing agency on repairs to key ships

The navy and the defence purchasing agency have allowed the nation's key emergency response ships to fall into a state of complete disrepair, an external review has found.

The report by engineer Paul Rizzo identified failings that resulted in the HMAS amphibious ships Kanimbla and Manoora and the heavy lift ship HMAS Tobruk to become unfit for sea without informing the Government.

Manoora has since been retired and the fate of Kanimbla is uncertain after the Government's decision to buy a second-hand Royal Navy ship, Largs Bay, to fill the amphibious role.

The Rizzo Review makes 24 recommendations, and the Government has ordered the navy and Defence Materiel Organisation to implement all immediately.

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