Page 116 - Australian Defence Magazine Dec-Jan 2021

116 FROM THE SOURCE MELISSA PRICE
DECEMBER 2020 – JANUARY 2021 | WWW.AUSTRALIANDEFENCE.COM.AU
MELISSA PRICE
MINISTER FOR DEFENCE INDUSTRY
With the coronacoaster that was 2020 with all its associated ups and downs, Defence and Defence Industry have performed remarkably well all things considered. ADM Managing Editor Katherine Ziesing caught up with Minister Price to get her perspective on the year that was and the year ahead in 2021.
ADM: 2020 has seen the government focus on reform again in Defence, supported by your Five Pillars approach. How are each of those pillars progressing?
PRICE: It has been my job to ensure we have the right system in place to support the Australian Defence Industry now and into the future so that we can deliver those essential defence capabilities. My approach has been to systematical- ly identify the barriers and the enablers to achieve serious levels of AIC (Australian Industry Capability) and the re- sult of this approach is the Five Pillars,
So in terms of where we’re at with respect to the AIC contractual framework, this will be implemented over the course of 2021 across Defence’s contracting template and industry are being informed of the changes to the frame- work as we speak; we’re creating from scratch and the implementation of an AIC audit program. This has been established and the first audits will be completed by the end of 2020. It’s not appropriate for me to go into the spe- cific detail of these audits, however, what I will say is that
which you just referred to, the delivery of a new and enhanced AIC contractual framework created from scratch and the implementation of an independent AIC audit program, the delivery and imple- mentation of CDIC review recommen- dations, update to the guidelines of the Commonwealth procurement rules, and also the review of ASDEFCON and the Defence procurement practices.
These Five Pillars are so important because they will ensure that we have the right system in place to support our Defence Industry, to make sure it is strong on the road ahead and that De- fence Industry gets those opportunities. There is a real need for a strong cultural push within Defence so that we’re plac- ing the needs of the Australian Defence Industry first and this is what delivery of these Five Pillars will achieve.
So where are we at? My team and I
have continued to meet with Industry
on a regular basis, most recently in Syd-
ney and Brisbane, especially with our
key industry associations, primes and
SME stakeholders around the coun-
try. The feedback on the Five Pillars has been extremely positive and I think that industry is looking forward to the upcoming Defence procurement ASDEFCON review as we look to significantly cut red tape in the procurement prac- tices of Defence and its contracting.
any project that’s post-2016 with an AIC plan can be audited.
Number three of the Five Pillars is the delivery and implementation of the CDIC recommendations. This is well underway with Peter Chesworth lead- ing the CDIC transition into Defence with all recommendations to be imple- mented by quarter one 2021, so good progress there.
As a government we updated the guidance to the Commonwealth Pro- curement Rules (CPRs) which provide greater direction and expectations for procurement decision makers, and this expanded guidance includes more specific details about what factors to consider when awarding a Defence contract. So now what this means is that when considering value for mon- ey, Defence must now give consider- ation to the contribution of small busi- ness, AIC, sovereign capability and building skills up and these are impor- tant changes and they’ve already hap- pened. They’re aimed at forging new opportunities for Australia’s terrific Defence Industry and some Defence
Industry commentators have said that the changes to the CPRs are the real game-changer for increasing AIC.
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PROFILE
2019 Appointed Minister for Defence Industry
2018 Minister for the Environment 2017 Elevated to the role of Assistant
Minister for the Environment
2016 Appointed to the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs,
Defence and Trade, Coalition Defence Policy Committee and the Defence Sub-Committee
2013 Elected as Member for Durack 2008- Mining Executive
2012
2002- Lawyer/Business Development
2008 Executive 1997- Solicitor –
2002 Private Legal Practice 1995- Law (Post Graduate) –
1996 UWA, Perth
1991- LLB (Hons) – Southbank
1994 University, London