Head of Australian defence purchasing resigns

The chief of Australia’s defence purchasing organisation and the country’s highest paid public servant, Dr Steve Gumley, has resigned.

The Defence Material Organisation (DMO) is responsible for purchasing everything for the Australian Defence Force needs.

Under Gumley’s watch, there have been issues  with procurement, maintenance and sustainment of major military hardware of which Defence Minister Steven Smith has been highly critical.

Smith was furious when the government required an amphibious ship for the Cyclone Yasi relief effort, only to discover none were available.

There have also been continuing problems and delays with the $8 billion air warfare destroyer project, while the nation's Collins Class submarine fleet has never been fully operational.

Smith said that Gumley had "done a difficult job very well”.

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