Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) will now produce an annual report on the performance of its most significant acquisition projects, Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Procurement Greg Combet has announced.

Mr Combet says the report, which will be made available to the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) for independent review, will ensure accountability of these projects.

Nine projects will feature in the first ‘pilot' report, which will contain key performance metrics on cost, schedule, capability and emerging trends. DMO intends to build on the number of projects reported during 2008-09.

The review of five projects was completed between November 2007 and April 2008. During May and June 2008 DMO will complete its report on the remaining four projects.

"The pilot includes a combination of Navy, Army, Air Force and Joint projects, and covers upgrades to existing capability along with new acquisitions," Mr Combet says.

"This new reporting will also greatly aid the important work done by the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit in ensuring accountability of these projects.”

The ANAO will publish its review of DMO's Major Projects Report in Parliament during the second quarter of 2008-09.

"This report is a step forward in fulfilling the Rudd Government's election commitment to task and resource independently validated reports on DMO's top 30 projects," Mr Combet says.

"It will provide scrutiny of the level of project management being applied and will monitor the Government's investment in these military capabilities on behalf of the Australian taxpayer."