1301.0 - Year Book Australia, 2012  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 24/05/2012   
   Page tools: Print Print Page

Defence

REFORM

The Strategic Reform Program (SRP) is the vehicle through which Defence will make the required changes to deliver and sustain Force 2030 (the Defence force outlined in the 2009 White Paper, together with the capabilities and infrastructure needed to support it). Commencing in 2009, the 10-year program remains Defence’s highest priority after the conduct of operations.

Reform within Defence achieved a heightened pace during 2010–11, as the SRP moved into its implementation phase. Other reform initiatives undertaken at this time focused on:

  • the ADF Posture Review to assess the ADF’s position for meeting Australia’s current and future strategic and security challenges
  • realigning the Defence budget in order to ensure that Defence has the funding it needs, while reducing operating expenditure through increased efficiencies, and
  • reviews on a wide set of aspects of Defence culture.
As a result of the SRP, Defence will deliver savings from efficiencies and cost reductions of around $20 billion. Defence achieved the SRP cost reduction target of $1,016 million in 2010–11. Areas where cost reductions were achieved included:
  • upgrading and consolidating Defence’s information and communications technology infrastructure
  • conversion of military and contract positions into Australian Public Service (APS) positions
  • improved demand management of travel, training, professional services and garrison support
  • streamlining the maintenance of military equipment
  • making contract improvements across a range of support and sustainment services and
  • changes in the way that financial risk is managed.
In May 2011, a second phase of SRP-related savings was announced, to be realised primarily through further improvements to the design and implementation of shared services across Defence Groups. These new reforms to shared services and other efficiency measures mean that Defence can reduce overall forecast APS workforce growth by 1,000 over the next three years. Savings from these reductions will be returned to the Budget.

 

Previous Page | Next Page

Statistics contained in the Year Book are the most recent available at the time of preparation. In many cases, the ABS website and the websites of other organisations provide access to more recent data. Each Year Book table or graph and the bibliography at the end of each chapter provides hyperlinks to the most up to date data release where available.