Panel to Oversee Australian Submarine Program

With France, Germany and Japan having confirmed their participation as potential international partners in the Australia’s future submarine programme, the Government today announces the establishment of the Expert Advisory Panel, which will oversee the competitive evaluation process.

The Expert Advisory Panel will assure the Government that the competitive evaluation process remains sound, is conducted in accordance with probity and accountability principles, and that participants have been treated fairly and equitably.

The members of the Expert Advisory Panel are:

* Professor Donald Winter, a former Secretary of the United States Navy;
* The Honourable Julie Anne Dodds‑Streeton, a former Justice of the Federal Court of Australia;
*Mr Ron Finlay, one of Australia’s leading infrastructure specialists with extensive legal experience; and
*Mr Jim McDowell, a member of the First Principles Review team with extensive Defence experience.

Collectively, these advisers share extensive experience in complex military acquisition programs, legal and probity matters, and major projects.

As noted earlier this year, Defence advises that Australia will need an international partner to deliver the future submarine programme and that a competitive evaluation provides the best opportunity for Australian industry to maximise their involvement in the programme without compromising capability, cost, schedule or risk.

The Government expects that significant work will be undertaken in Australia during the build phase of the future submarine including combat systems integration, design assurance and land based testing. This will result in the creation of at least 500 new high-skilled jobs in Australia, the majority of which will be based in South Australia.