Competitive Evaluation Process
The Ministers coded message is delivered in this video
The Minister for Defence, Mr. Kevin Andrews, has certainly practised the mandatory pollie skill of speaking much, meaning little, thus sidelining his real intentions. He has managed to elevate to the next level, in that he has not only confused the public, but the rest of the Government with respect to the Submarine tendering process, or whatever else he may have been thinking.
The Submarines shall no doubt be build overseas, with the decision more than likely already set in concrete. The latest assumed tendering requirement, being the “Competitive evaluation process”, probably already excludes Australian builders anyway, as any such analysis would probably declare us lacking competence in manufacture, and ability to hold to time and budget. Why do we need twelve conventional submarines anyway, in a nuclear world???
However, many have attempted to root out the cleverly concealed meaning within the statement, the code of which required considerable decoding. Bringing confusion to a complete Government, most of whom are members of the legal fraternity, is no mean feat.
I have studied this statement and believe I may be able to elucidate and offer up some understanding: “The Submarine project should be so structured, such that it maximises the probability of project success and minimises the cost and time required for the philosophy of commonality and standardisation”. I hope this helps; even Mr Andrews to understand that which he said. As a resultant implication, there must exist, the characterisation of specific criteria.
This should qualify me for at least a seat on the backbench. Amen.
John Bushell.
Golden Grove, SA. 5125