| I don't approve if it is to fill recruitment shortages. I don't think we should raise the white flag on recruiting Australian citizens (of any race, colour or creed). More promotion needs to happen although I thought this was happening and successfully. At officer level, numbers for new cadets are up at the ADF - at least Navy and Army (Creswell and Duntroon).
I'm all in favour of Australian ADF helping to train our friendly neighbours however - strengthens alliances and friendship and helps them to defend themselves, but not bringing them into Australian ADF because someone up-top has given in on home-grown recruitment. Still, if Aussie youth/young adults are turning down ADF opportunities to serve then maybe that's what we're faced with - maybe it's a tactical wake up call by the Defence Minister. |