In my September editorial, I challenged ADM readers to come up with what they would do if they were elected Minister for Defence at the recent election. Out of all the responses, below is the one that struck me most. The author has asked that his details not be published. A most sincere thank you to all those who took the time to respond and think about the issue.
As the new Defence Minister it must be understood that I am not retiring in the near future; like the previous ministers from the former Labor Government.
I have had discussions with the Prime Minister and he in consultation with the cabinet has decided that I will remain as Defence Minister for the duration of this Parliament. i.e. three years. There will be no more revolving door/retiring Defence Ministers!
Defence’s New Priorities are based on the following facts:
1. defence of the Australian Nation was a prime motivation for federation over 100 years ago;
2. defence of Australia, its citizens and its interests are still the first priority of government;
3. Australia’s geographic position in the world has not and will not change;
4. Australia must trade to create economic benefit for its people and maintain stability and prosperity for its neighbours;
5. Australia’s area of interest stretches from the Middle Eastern oil fields/Suez Canal in the Northwest to the International Date Line in the East and to the North as far as our furthest main trading partner;
6. based on historical, military and economic lessons, the ADF must be prepared and supported to defend these interests;
7. due to many factors, we now face an internal extremist threat, in co-operation with ASIS and ASIO, Defence is to neutralise this threat;
8. the ADF has been at war since 1999, the Department and Australia has NOT; there is no need for the Australian people to change their attitude - but the department will;
9. Australia remains committed to our Treaty Alliances and the UN, however we reserve the right to self-determination.
Changes to command and management structure
1. Over the next three years there will be a reduction in the department’s public servant hierarchy by 33 per cent.
2. Over the next three years there will be a reduction within the ADF hierarchy by 25 per cent.
3. Within three months all star ranked officers in the ADF (regardless of service branch) will wear the same rank insignia of their equivalent rank. e.g. brigadier one star etc.
4. On immediate passing by parliament of the law, no member of the Department of Defence (DOD) is to be employed by any defence contractor for a period of five years after their serving in any role in contract negotiations; especially equipment purchases.
5. The terms ADF and DOD are to be used. The tittles ADF Service Members and DOD Public Servants are also to be used.
6. The term Defence Civilians is only to be used in the correct context. i.e. as per the Defence Law Manual.
7. All positions and decisions within the department will be reviewed where necessary and held accountable.
Equipment procurement
Australia has by world standards a small requirement for equipment and a restricted budget; that will not change. It must be understood by all of the ADF and DOD that Australia is a small player on the world stage. Australia and therefore the DOD and ADF must live within its allocated budget.
Example: I have two computers which now both run Windows 7 (one generation behind, we avoided the Windows 8 intro problems), I have what was then a newly purchased 2003 Hilux 4X2 (Last of the old models) 178,000 km and still going strong, and my 19 year old son purchased a 2013 Hilux 4X2; the reliable Toyotas get us to 95 per cent of fishing spots. My 21 year old purchased a new 2011 Mazda 3, the most popular new car sold in Australia. What has this got to do with defence?
Lessons for the Defence Bureaucracy:
- Don’t get an over inflated view of yourself and our abilities. e.g. Collins subs, M113AS3/4; Wedgetail;
- Buy tried and tested equipment. (in the country we call them, common as sheep shit) e.g. F/A 18 E/F/G Super Hornet, C130, C17, M113A3, M777A2, M109A6, Blackhawk, Seahawk, Aircobra/Apache, Javelin Missile;
- Don’t buy cast-offs from our friends. e.g. HMAS Westralia, all of the past and present amphibious rust buckets, Seasprites;
- Do not buy the first model of anything. e.g. F/A18A, JSF/F35, MRH90, Tiger ARH; and;
- All equipment either must be made here or be supportable within Australia in times of conflict.
To gain economy of scale and possible factory setup and build in Australia; a lease/sell to the civil local, state and federal government agencies will be investigated. Civilian companies both large and small as well as individuals wishing to purchase equipment tax free, will also be studied. This will provide a larger base, standardization/interoperability and a built in reserve for a national emergency, either nature or not. e.g. transport trucks, dump trucks, fire trucks, 4WDs, boots, tents, ration packs, etc.
Navy
1. The RAN is to replace Collins Class Submarines with 8-12 proven designs from an overseas source.
2. Fleet Base East and West are to be maintained in present location for refit and repair.
3. Forward Rearm and Refuel Positions (FARP) are to be located and expanded in Central East, Central West, NE and NW Australia.
4. Navy will now manage the building and major refit of all Surface Combatants at ASC in South Australia; so there will be no “flood or drought” nor “feast or famine”; no lost of skilled work force and budgetary certainty.
5. ASC will remain Commonwealth owned; but it will be managed by the winning shipbuilding contractor, (the facility will be handed over to the winning company for the next class of ship) where it will become a common use facility, over-watched and maintained by DOD on behalf of Navy.
6. The building of patrol boats will continue in WA and all landing craft and other minor craft will be built on the east coast.
7. Consideration will be given to transferring all Australian Customs crafts to the RAN.
Army
1. Army will continue with a modified Plan Beersheba.
2. Army Reserve Brigade HQ will be reduced to three and tasked to provide reinforcement to ARA brigades.
3. There will be less HQ and less hollow units; more fighting units.
4. Savings are to be redirected to the purchase of M1 Abraham tank- based, bridging tanks, breaching tanks and engineering tanks.
5. DOD will purchase the M109A6, enough for three ARA batteries and a fourth for training/spare.
6. Land 400 will pursue two distinct paths:
a. Heavy Armoured Tracked Family of Vehicles;
b. Medium Armoured Wheeled Family of Vehicles; and
c. maximum commonality of major and minor systems and parts are essential.
7. Land 400 will be a Military-off-the Shelf purchase will a large Australian Industry support base.
Air Force
1. The RAAF will no longer consider itself to be in a position to be a lead customer for the introduction into service of any aircraft. e.g. C130J, F35, P-8.
2. Bare Bases in Australia’s north are to be upgraded.
3. RAAF Richmond is to be converted to a duel use military/civilian airfield similar to RAAF Base Darwin. It will become Sydney’s minor secondary airport. Similar usage as the Gold Coast Airport.
4. The RAAF will study the adoption of the Disruptive Pattern Desert Uniform (DPDU) as its general duties dress of the day. In this way the ADF will maintain a steady source of all the needed camouflage uniforms for all of the ADF for overseas deployments. i.e. Navy –night/urban, Army – bush/jungle, Air Force – desert/snow.
Conclusion
A new way of thinking within the ADF and the DOD is to emphasize war-fighting, economy and less bureaucracy. With these principles in mind Australia will regain and maintain a strong Defence Force towards 2020 and beyond.