It was customary to break in standard combat boots by soldiers from the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
” “There weren’t many people who had to take their equipment and packs long distances and didn’t need to do that to ensure they were comfortable,” stated Heston Russell who is a veteran advocate and former Special Forces operative.
” We were actually getting our boots and then soaking them in the tub, before hitting them with hammers,” he explained to The Epoch Times. He said that it was five years later that a “boot review” was started.
Russell claims that this seemingly minor issue provides insight into the long-standing, endemic issues in Australia’s armed forces. These problems have now spilled into multi-billion-dollar projects.
Well-publicised delays in the country’s submarine program were one reason (among others) behind the Labor government’s recent decision to launch its Defence Strategic Review just two years after the previous Liberal-National Coalition government released its 2020 Defence Strategic Update.
“In 2020, the Defence Strategic Update identified that changes in Australia’s strategic environment are accelerating more rapidly than predicted in the 2012 Force Posture Review,” said Richard Marles, the current defence minister, in a statement. This requires an urgent analysis on where and how Defence personnel and assets are most well positioned to defend Australia’s national interests .
The Strategic Review will take place under the chairmanship of Stephen Smith, former Labor Defence Minister and former Chief of Defence Force Angus Houston.
Veterans such as Russell are skeptical about the necessity of another government review.
“Why would we bring back a former chief of defence force and defence minister to review our ADF, when there is a current defense minister [Marles], a secretary for defense who makes around a million dollars a a year [Greg Moriarty] and a Chief of Defence Force (Angus Campbell]?” he stated.
” The most important thing to review is our portfolio in the defense industry and how we develop, procure and deliver key assets .”
Shifting the Defence Portfolio Away From Job Creation
Years in peace and the absence of major threats on Australia’s doorstep have encouraged a relaxed approach to defense spending. Political leaders are opting for the portfolio to drive economic growth.
The issue is now at its peak with the purchase of multi-billion-dollar French Attack-class submarines and Hunter Hunter-class frigates. This acquisition has caused delays that have dominated the news cycle.
A major contributing factor was to refuse to purchase existing vessel designs (off-the shelf) from foreign partners. Instead, opt for completely new custom designs that will require extensive construction and fitting-outs. In the case of submarines, former Prime Minister Tony Abbott (2013 to 2015) had wanted to purchase Soryu-class vessels–constructed and delivered–from Japan, however, this plan was changed when Abbott was removed and replaced by Malcolm Turnbull.
Despite apparent flaws in building a new vessel, the idea was appealing to the then-government because it would create hundreds of thousands or more jobs in Australia’s defense hub, Adelaide. Christopher Pyne was present in Adelaide as the former Defence Minister.
However, it soon became clear that the commissioning timeframe of these vessels–around the 2030s–was unviable given the increasing aggression of Beijing in the Indo-pacific region.
In 2021, the Attack class would finally be cancelled by former Prime Minister Scott Morrison in favour of nuclear-powered submarines from the United States and United Kingdom under the AUKUS deal–a move met with displeasure from the French government.
In the meantime, Labor Defense Minister Marles indicated that there was a shift in the defense portfolio from job creation to actual national security work.
“Capability and strategic need must drive decision-making,” he told The Sydney Morning Herald on Aug. 8. That is the way we should think about it. It’s important to think clearly about this. Industry is following that .”
An Extra Coat of Paint Is Not Enough
Lincoln Parker is the chair of the Liberal Party’s Defence and National Security Branch. He said that the review’s timing was crucial given ongoing grey zone tactics and coercion used by Beijing in South Pacific.
” We must act immediately to protect ourselves and face this growing threat. Otherwise, we will be encircled.” he said to The Epoch Times.
” However, Stephen Smith’s appointment as former Labor Minister for Defence is alarming. His record of being Australia’s worst defence minister has led to deep budget cuts for Defence and endless reviews. He said, “Can he take tough decisions and not compromise?”
Some of these difficult decisions include refocusing the ADF’s focus.
For the past few decades, the Armed Forces have been mainly engaged in Middle East operations, including desert warfare and travel on large flat plains.
But with Beijing’s rise, there are questions about whether or not the ADF can be ready to engage in major maritime operations.
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” Many commentators call for ADF’s structure to follow the U.S. Marine Corps model, and specifically the Marine Expeditionary Force. Therefore, spending billions of dollars on Abrams tanks and 400 infantry fighting vehicles does not make sense,” he said, in reference to recent acquisitions under the last government.
” This money can be used to buy long-range missiles and armed drones as well as MEF-like capabilities. We also need a long-range bomber option to replace what we used to have with the F-111. B-2 Bombers or the new B-21 would be good options.”
Larger Structural Problems and Corruption Remain
If the Department of Defense is to be able to face the challenges facing the region in the near future, Russell thinks that it will need extensive reforms.
“When the Chief of Army resigned, all of the sudden, he started working at the company that provided all the new military boots.” he stated. This is how it happens all the time. You can draw lines between senior ranks within the Defence Force and people who are involved in big projects. Then they go out to the defence industry where they find amazing soft landing jobs.
” We are seeing corruption at the top of our country’s government and in our defense industry.
” I speak with contractors and they tell me that it is the best way to win a defense contract. Once you have won the contract, don’t stop delaying or raising the price .”
Parker stated that a complete culture shift and mental adjustment was necessary.
” The Department of Defense is crammed with bureaucracy and red tape. They also have a skewed aversion for any risk. He said, “How do you get anything fast, much less innovate under such cultural malaise?”
” The answer is no. The reason Australia’s defense bang for its buck is the worst .”
in the world is because of this.
The Epoch Times reached the Department of Defence to request a reply, but was not able to receive one before publication.
Ministerial Revolving Door Needs to Stop
Russell stated that a lack in continuity among ministers who hold portfolios of government is another obstacle to overcome.
“Minister of Defence is considered your third in command behind Minister for Foreign Relations, and it’s essentially seen as a steppingstone for politicians rather than finding the most qualified person for the job,” said he.
Once O’Connor was elected as the shadow defence and veteran affairs minister, he spent over two years with Neumann and O’Connor. O’Connor also engaged Peter Dutton (then-defence Minister) in formal discussions at the National Press Club about national security and China.
But with the victory of the Labor Party at the election, followed by the horse-trading to secure portfolios, neither man was able to take up positions. Instead, two additional MPs were elected.
“[The new veteran affairs minister] had no insight on any of the work that I had done with his predecessor, his department, and the Secretary of the Department over the last 18 months on things like how to remove the backlog of veteran compensation claims and other initiatives,” Russell said.
It’s about getting to know the new place, celebrating it and then moving on. With the changeover in government, it’s going to take them six to 12 months to sort themselves out.”
In response, Matt Keogh, the current veteran affairs minister, said that he was under “no illusions” of the task ahead for the government to assist the 581,000 current and former service men and women in the country.
” I know it’s a daunting task, but I am determined to ensure we provide the support and services that veterans and their families need and deserve,” he stated in a statement to The Epoch Times. “I’ll strive to make myself as accessible as I can, so I hear directly from those in the trenches. I’ve already had meetings with numerous stakeholders throughout the country .”
The minister said he was conscious of the backlog of current veteran compensation claims (37,000 claims) and that the Labor government would employ an additional 500 staff (at a cost of $226.3 million) to bolster the Department of Veteran Affairs.
” “This government is acutely conscious of the national tragedy, defence and veteran suicide,” said he. “We will inject $24 million over four years to ensure veterans’ skills and experience are valued and appreciated by the wider community.”
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Daniel Y. Teng resides in Sydney. He focuses on national affairs including federal politics, COVID-19 response, and Australia-China relations. Have a tip for him? Contact him at [email protected].
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