Less than 24 hours after being unveiled, Richard Marles’ so-called landmark defence acquisition reforms have been exposed as nothing more than a bureaucratic reshuffle that bypassed key defence agencies and will do nothing to speed up delivery.

Under questioning from Coalition Senators, agencies responsible for major projects and capabilities – including submarines, naval infrastructure and satellite technology – confirmed they first heard about the new Defence Delivery Agency through media reports on Monday.

No Defence Minister, departmental official or ministerial staffer contacted them in advance. They had no input into the design of the reforms and, more than a day after the announcement, still had no detailed information – beyond being offered a 25-minute briefing on Thursday. This is despite Defence being both shareholder and customer of these agencies.

Officials further confirmed the changes would have no impact on the delivery of their projects and no impact on their existing relationships with Defence – directly contradicting Labor’s claims that the reforms will bring in more commercial expertise and speed up projects.

Shadow Minister for Defence Angus Taylor said the evidence showed the announcement was all spin and no substance.

“Richard Marles is playing musical chairs with the Defence Department instead of doing the hard policy work needed to protect Australians and our servicemen and women.

“Defence policy must serve the warfighter and the Australian people – not exist for ministerial press conferences and photo opportunities.

“While other nations are moving with urgency to get better bang for buck from their defence spending, Labor is leaving Australia behind in the most dangerous strategic environment since the Second World War.

“Labor’s rhetoric isn’t keeping up with reality. Thought bubbles and magic tricks won’t fix defence procurement – just like accounting tricks won’t fix defence underfunding.

“Richard Marles needs to level with Australians: explain the threat; explain the funding that’s needed; and explain what real reforms will make sure every dollar is spent well.

“So far, all these reforms have delivered is confusion. Our ADF needs capability, not a new org chart,” Mr Taylor said.

Shadow Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said Labor’s attempt to brand this bureaucratic reshuffle as the “biggest reform in 50 years” had collapsed within a day.

“Labor’s spin simply doesn’t stack up. Key defence agencies weren’t consulted, weren’t briefed, and don’t believe these changes will shift the dial on delivery. That tells you everything about the credibility of this announcement.

“Instead of patting themselves on the back for a glossy new org chart, Labor should be doing the real work: investing in capability, supporting industry and fixing the growing backlog of delayed projects.

“Industry won’t be celebrating a restructure that does nothing to bring work forward. You can’t sustain a sovereign industrial base when Defence isn’t buying,” Ms Price said.

ENDS