[Peetwo]

Senator McDonald QON for AMSA??

Via RRAT Additional Estimates webpage:

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Question

The article ''Government loses its way over navigation'' cites national security, and the discrepancy between spending billions on nuclear submarines and defence hardware to defend Australian waters, yet not awarding a contract for the maintenance of the Aids to Navigation network which provides national safety and security to the international shipping lane between the Great Barrier Reef and basically the entire eastern seaboard, through which 18000 vessels navigate each year.

a) Is it correct that AMSA has not renewed the Navigation Aid contract to AMS Group, which has provided this safety, security and maintenance service with a 100% KPI performance since 2001?
b) Is it correct that AMS Group was the only tenderer?
c) Is it correct that 13 other companies put in expressions of expressed interest?
d) Which organisation has been awarded the contract?

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Question

1. Of the10 questions I submitted, the exact word-for-word answer was given for nine of them, all referencing commercial sensitivity and a ''lack of desire'' to provide further comment. The only distinct response still hides behind a reference to commercial sensitivity and does not answer the question. What is being hidden and why?
2. Did the Minister and/or the Department have input into these AMSA answers?
3. If so, when and why
4. In the nine exact same answers provided, the advice is that the ''current contract for aids to navigation maintenance remains in place until 30 June 2024 and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority will ensure the network is maintained appropriately after that date.'' It took 15 weeks from the date I submitted my written questions on 31 October 2023 for the answers that didn't answer anything to be published. If we use 15 weeks as the benchmark for questions to be answered, I calculate that 15 weeks from today's date of 23 February 2024 is 07 June, just three weeks before 30 June and the completion of the current contract for aids to navigation maintenance.

a) Should I expect answers to my current round of questions by the next Senate Estimates?
b) Is 15 weeks the usual time that AMSA or the Department or the Minister takes to respond to queries

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Question

1. Has a new CEO of AMSA been identified?
2. Is the new CEO start date 01 July 2024?

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Question

1. Are you aware that Minister Catherine King has referred the AMSA procurement process of the Aids to Navigation contract to the Auditor General, requesting that the Australian National Audit Office undertake an urgent assurance review? Noting that a statement was issued on Monday 12 February regarding Mr Hehir's resignation effective as at Friday 15 February, I presume that this review will continue - can this be confirmed by the Department and Minister?
2. When will the urgent ANAO review be finalised?

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Question

Is AMSA and the Department and the Minister confident that there will be no lowering of standards or heightened risk with international shipping through the Great Barrier Reef from 01 July?

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Question

ABC Far North Queensland interviewed Crispin Hull, The Canberra Times journalist, and Mark Morrow, Executive Director of AMSA on 20 November 2023. Mr Morrow assured listeners that there was no threat to the navigational aids or system that exists in North Queensland.

Does AMSA and the Department and the Minister remain confident that there is no threat to the safety of the network and particularly the Great Barrier Reef?

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Question

The Canberra Times published an article on 27 November last year - ''Government loses its way over navigation''.

a) What was the AMSA reaction to that headline, or the Department or Minister's reaction?
b) Did AMSA or the Department or the Minister contact The Canberra Times to discuss or respond to the article

MTF...P2