Former defence secretary and ambassador to the US Dennis Richardson will conduct a “short, sharp” review of the Australian Submarine Agency. Photo: ADF.
The Federal Government has quietly appointed former Defence Department secretary and ambassador to the US Dennis Richardson to conduct a review into the Australian Submarine Agency (ASA).
Established just 18 months ago to deliver Virginia-class and SSN AUKUS nuclear-powered submarines to the Royal Australian Navy under AUKUS Pillar I, the agency is commanded by Navy Vice Admiral Johnathan Mead.
Apart from the acquisition of the submarines themselves, the ASA is also tasked with delivering the shipyard where the SSN AUKUS boats will be built, maintenance and sustainment facilities at Henderson in WA and eventually, at an as-yet-unnamed east coast base. It is also responsible for ensuring a workforce of uniformed and industry personnel is trained and in place.
The ASA website says: “The Australian Submarine Agency was established on 1 July 2023 to safely and securely acquire, construct, deliver, technically govern, sustain and dispose of Australia’s conventionally-armed nuclear-powered submarine capability for Australia, via the AUKUS partnership.”
As reported in The Guardian Australia, the appointment of Mr Richardson comes after the resignation last month of ASA deputy director-general David Hallinan after concerns he had raised about the running of the agency.
It also comes as a recent Australian Public Service survey revealed low staff morale and poor internal communications within the ASA.
However, some commentators have questioned how impartial Mr Richardson’s review could be, as he is known to be a vocal supporter of the goals of AUKUS.
He has also previously worked alongside VADM Mead on the SEA 5000 Future Frigate program, which resulted in BAE Systems’ Global Combat Ship being selected ahead of competing designs, and which is now being built as the Hunter class in Adelaide.
Mr Richardson is also a member of a taskforce selected by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Defence Minister Richard Marles to oversee the implementation of the government’s Defence Strategic Review (DSR). Other members of the taskforce are former Labor defence minister and current high commissioner to London Stephen Smith, and former air force chief and defence force chief Sir Angus Houston.
The Guardian Australia also reported that Mr Marles wrote to VADM Mead in early November to express his concerns and say he intended to order a review.
The first of five Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines is scheduled to be delivered to Australia in 2032. Photo: General Dynamics Electric Boat.
In an interview with ABC Radio on 6 December, Mr Marles said the government felt now was the right time to examine ASA and “check that we’ve got all its settings right”.
“We’re asking ASA to do a really big thing and they have done a great job to date,” he said.
“But not everything is perfect with ASA, it would be astounding if I was sitting here talking to you today saying that it was.
“And so we want Dennis to have a look at this in a short, sharp way, kick the tyres if you like, just check to make sure that we’ve got everything in the right place and to work out where we’re not going as well as we should.
“I’m ultimately confident that we are going to succeed in the task of acquiring this capability. But part of that confidence is because I know that we will apply a method of scrutinising ourselves to the highest degree possible, holding ourselves to account, understanding where we’re doing well, but where we need to do better.
“Dennis is a very accomplished and esteemed former public servant. And so, there’s really no-one better to have a look at how a new agency, which is being set up, is going.”
