Defence force understaffed by thousands in tight labour market: Chief Angus Campbell

Dominic Giannini

AAP

2 Min Read

14 Feb 2024

Updated

15 Feb 2024

Chief of the Australian Defence Force Angus Campbell says the ADF is more than 4300 people short. Credit: AAP

The Australian Defence Force is thousands of people below strength as it struggles to employ and retain staff.

There was a shortage of more than 4300 people — almost seven per cent — as of January 1, Chief of the ADF Angus Campbell told a parliamentary hearing.

Hiring rates are below the level required to maintain the force, the general said on Wednesday.

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“Defence is addressing retention and recruitment as a priority,” he said.

A tight labour market made the task more difficult.

On the plus side, the number of people leaving the force dropped from a high of almost 12 per cent to 10 per cent in February.

The size of the air force was at a two-decade high, the Australian Defence Force Academy just started one of its largest intakes of trainee officers and the army graduated its largest cohort from the military college last year, General Campbell said.

picture dated 08 December 2003 shows an Iraqi woman behind an Australian soldier standing guard outside Canberra's embassy in Baghdad. The United States ambassador in Canberra warned Australia's up-and-coming opposition leader 25 March 2004 that his campaign pledge to withdraw troops from Iraq by Christmas would have "serious consequences". Labor leader Mark Latham, riding high in opinion polls ahead of an election due later this year, came under a barrage of criticism over his pledge, with government politicians accused him of playing into the hands of terrorists and straining the US alliance. AFP PHOTO/AHMAD AL-RUBAYE (Photo by AHMAD AL-RUBAYE / AFP) Credit: AHMAD AL-RUBAYE

Liberal frontbencher Simon Birmingham pursued questions about the Department of Defence’s culture following reports of tensions between minister Richard Marles and top brass.

The issue traces back to a tense meeting between the minister, department secretary and defence chief.

“There won’t be any Valentine’s Day cards flowing between the minister for defence and his department, though, will there?” Senator Birmingham said.

Defence Secretary Greg Moriarty said it wasn’t unusual for a minister to make clear their expectations of senior staff.

“I’ve had many interactions with a number of ministers in this portfolio and it’s routine and, in fact, appropriate for them to have these engagements with the department,” he said.

“The minister also set out areas where he was very pleased with the performance of the department.”

Chief of the Australian Defence Force Angus Campbell says the ADF is more than 4300 people short. (Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS) Credit: AAP

Officials were also pressed on why the defence minister hasn’t released a review into the navy’s surface fleet, which was announced in April 2023 and received by the government four months later.

Senator Birmingham questioned why there was a delay in the release despite the minister saying it would be short and sharp.

Labor senator Jenny McAllister, representing the defence minister at the Senate hearing, said the government was considering the recommendations.

Previous reviews took years to work through, department Deputy Secretary Tom Hamilton said.

“The review of the surface fleet was undertaken very quickly, but it was a very, very thorough process,” he said.

“It is entirely appropriate that the government take the time it needs to work through such issues of fundamental importance to the Australian Defence Force and to Australia’s defence policy settings.”

The review is expected to be released next week.