The Government has introduced a Bill into the Parliament that establishes a Parliamentary Joint Committee on Defence to have general oversight of Australian defence agencies. What’s the scam?
The scam is that the committee will be constituted with 13 Senators and MPs from the major parties, excluding the Greens and the Independents.
MPs will be appointed by resolution of the House of Representatives, on the nomination of the Prime Minister. Senators will be appointed by resolution of the Senate, on the nomination of the Leader of Government in the Senate. In other words, the committee that will examine AUKUS will be composed of members of the parties that are in lockstep supporting the program.
When the Greens attempted last week to send the Bill to a Senate committee for consideration, supported by the crossbench, the Labor/LNP duopoly joined forces to prevent scrutiny.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
The committee will be charged with reviewing, amongst other things, white papers, reviews and other policy documents dealing with strategies and planning and with capability development, acquisitions and sustainment.
The Committee with have the ability to receive and consider classified information in the course of performing its functions, but will
not be permitted to conduct proceedings in public without the Minister’s approval.
Incidentally, Defence spends a LOT more money on external contractors than any other Agency of Government.
Contracts Under management (Source: Austender)
Dumb Ways to Buy: Defence “shambles” unveiled – former submariner and senator Rex Patrick