The government will establish an External Advisory Panel to oversee the implementation of the Defence Strategic Review (DSR) recommendations.
Former Secretary of the Department of Defence, Dennis Richardson; former Secretary of the Department of Finance, Rosemary Huxtable; and former Deputy Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Richard Maude, have been appointed to the panel.
"The DSR and the Government’s response will inform all aspects of Australia’s defence policy, planning and resourcing over the coming decades," Deputy PM and Minister for Defence Richard Marles said in a statement.
The DSR recommended a three-tier system be adopted to oversee and lead the implementation of the Review’s recommendations.
The External Advisory Panel will provide an independent assessment of Defence’s progress, in accordance with Government direction and the intent of the recommendations. It will report biannually to Government.
The Panel will be co-chaired by the DSR authors Stephen Smith and Sir Angus Houston.
“The appointment of the Expert Advisory Panel reflects the Government’s commitment to the implementation of the Defence Strategic Review," Minister Marles said.
“Realising the Review’s ambition requires major reform. It is appropriate that such significant reform is accompanied by an independent assessment of progress and challenges as we undertake this important task.”