Australia: Govt Attacked Over Naval Shortfall

A CALL for the Chief of Navy to be sacked over the sad state of Australia’s amphibious ships shows how the Government has failed to protect him from ‘‘ignorant scapegoating’’, the Australian Defence Association says.

Association executive director Neil James said the sacking call was misplaced.

He has criticised Defence Minister Stephen Smith for not supporting Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Russ Crane.

The Opposition believes the Admiral should be held accountable for the fact just one of Australia’s three landing ships, the HMAS Tobruk, is currently operational.

Mr James said maintaining warships was not the Chief of Navy’s responsibility.

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Source: The Advertiser State Edition , March 9, 2011;