SAS Claim Training Compromised By Lack Of Ammunition

Chris Evans - Shadow Minister for Defence

Media Statement - 20 March 2002

Labor called on the Defence Minister to give an assurance that the SAS troops due to depart for Afghanistan have received adequate training in all ammunition types, given a report which identifies critical shortages in ammunition for the SAS Regiment.

"The Minister for Defence should give an assurance that the SAS due to depart for Afghanistan have had adequate training in all ammunition types," said Senator Chris Evans.

"SAS soldiers have a proud tradition of operating successfully in highly dangerous environments, it is inexcusable that the Government would potentially undermine their safety and effectiveness by not giving them the ammunition they need.

"The Minister yesterday attempted to dismiss the serious concerns raised by an Army Report into critical shortages of ammunition.

"The concerns raised in that report come directly from the SAS, indicating that they had only received a third of the ammunition they needed.

"This Government is saving $8 million a year by cutting back on the ammunition provided to the SAS.

"Given the proposed deployment of further SAS soldiers into Afghanistan to replace existing units, it is important that the community is assured that those troops have had the training with ammunition they need to ensure their safety and effectiveness.

"The Report highlights that this shortfall and the impact on training means the Group will not be able to maintain its capability and that 'This may eventually result in fratricide during either operations or training.

"While noting the recent successes of the Special Forces Group, the report states that it has not been tested by a major war-fighting deployment, which would potentially expose the shortfalls in training due to the lack of ammunition provided to the Group."