The Albanese Labor Government has handed a further $11 billion to the Australian subsidiary of a British weapons manufacturer to build just the steel hulls for three Hunter Class Frigates, making them some of the most expensive ships ever built, if we ever get them.
The initial $2.25 billion contract was for just the design and “productisation” of the Hunter Class Frigate, however, it was amended without tender this month and jumped to nearly $15 billion. It is understood that the additional $11 billion provided by the Government is just for the hulls of three ships, not including any weapons, radar or other essential equipment.
At $4 billion each, the Albanese Labor Government is now overseeing one of the most expensive ships ever built. The ship’s design has also been plagued with issues, as it is significantly outclassed by other ships that cost significantly less.
This contract change comes a decade after the project was initiated and following the review of the Australian Navy’s surface fleet earlier this year that slashed the number of ships from nine to six. The Greens referred the Hunter Frigates program to the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) last year.
Senator Shoebridge, Greens Spokesperson for Defence, said:
“The Hunter Frigate program is turning into a black hole for the Labor Government to pour billions of dollars into.
“The Albanese Labor Government has now had multiple opportunities to course correct but they have doubled down on failure.”
“If we look at countries like South Korea they are manufacturing bigger and better-equipped ships for a fraction of the price.
“This is not about investing in defence, it’s about rewarding failure by politicians who repeatedly prove themselves incapable of holding Defence to account.
“The Greens referred this program to the NACC because it showed clear signs of corruption, but this whole program also shows a complete disregard for the public interest, value for money and what is in the best interests of the defence of Australia.
“Over the next decade, the Albanese Government has planned for nearly three-quarters of a trillion dollars to be spent on Defence. If that spending looks like the Hunter Frigates program we will blow endless billions of dollars and end the decade far less safe.”