The Hon Pat Conroy MP
Minister for Defence Industry
Minister for International Development and the Pacific

MEDIA RELEASE

The Australian Government is continuing to prioritise getting Defence acquisition projects back on track under its reinvigorated Projects of Concern process.

Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Pat Conroy MP, Luerssen Australia’s Chairman, Mr Tim Wagner and senior Defence and Luerssen Australia officials met today at a Projects of Concern Summit in Canberra to discuss the SEA 1180 Phase 1 – Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) project.

The OPV project was listed as a Project of Concern in October this year, with the project experiencing delays in delivery of both the vessels and the associated support system.

Schedule delays with the project first emerged in 2021.

Defence and Luerssen Australia recommitted to working collaboratively to resolve the significant challenges experienced with the delivery schedule for the OPV capability.

The Project of Concern process is a proven way to remediate challenging projects through ministerial oversight and bringing Defence and industry together for constructive discussions.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Pat Conroy MP:

“I thank company representatives and Defence officials for their work today in discussing the Arafura-class offshore patrol vessel project. Top-level focus is essential to ensure we are doing all we can to remediate areas of deficiency.

“Defence and our industry partner Luerssen Australia have committed to jointly address the significant schedule delays facing this project. Defence looks forward to working collaboratively with Luerssen Australia to get the project back on track.

“Today’s Summit has provided the leadership, commitment and oversight that is needed to work towards remediating this project.”