Defence top brass in for radical shake up as three contracts expire

Three of our four top military leaders are on the way out as Australia’s Defence force faces a shake-up. See the list.

Exclusive: Australia’s military is due for wholesale change at the top, with three of the nation’s top commanders reaching the end of their contracts in the first week of July.

The unfortunate timing means the next Defence Minister will have to consider replacements for three of our four top military leaders, including Chief of the Defence Force, Angus Campbell, immediately after taking office.

Ordinarily, a formal process would be underway now to replace General Campbell, as well as Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Rick Burr, and Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Michael Noonan.

General Angus Campbell, pictured in Afghanistan, finishes his term in July. Picture: Supplied

When General Campbell was appointed to his four-year term in 2018, the Government announced it in early April – months ahead of his start date of July 4.

But with the Morrison Government due to enter caretaker mode within three weeks, the process will be delayed, and the new Defence Minister will have to make appointments soon after being sworn in.

If the Coalition holds Government, it would be expected that Defence Minister Peter Dutton would retain the portfolio.

If Labor was to win, deputy leader and national reconstruction spokesman Richard Marles would likely become Defence Minister, having previously served as the opposition defence spokesman.

Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Rick Burr, is also at the end of his contract. Picture: Supplied

The most important appointment will be that of the new Chief of the Defence Force, and it would be presumed that both sides of politics are already informally considering the new appointment.

While the role is theoretically rotated across the three armed forces, in reality this does not always occur – Australia has not had a CDF from the Navy since 2002.

It is also possible General Campbell could be asked to stay on, to ensure continuity and stability, particularly in the event Labor won Government.

While Australia does not currently have troops actively fighting ground wars overseas, the country is refocusing its military to consider potential threats from China. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has also heightened military tensions.

Australia will also need a Chief of Navy when Vice Admiral Michael Noonan finishes up. Picture: Supplied

Under General Campbell’s leadership, the military has been used to assist in a number of domestic crises, including the Black Summer bushfires and evacuation of Mallacoota in January 2020, backing up police in Victoria during the Covid-19 lockdowns of 2020 and 2021, and the NSW and Queensland floods in recent days. The Army was called in to take over the bungled Covid-19 vaccine rollout, and ADF personnel were deployed to aged care facilities.

General Campbell also inherited the drawn-out inquiry by the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force into war crimes alleged to have been carried out by some Special Forces personnel in Afghanistan, with the Government less than pleased with Defence’s handling of the release of the report.

Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld, AO, DSC, has another year to go. Picture: Supplied.

Shortly after Mr Dutton became Defence Minister, he over-ruled General Campbell and reversed the CDF’s decision to revoke a meritorious unit citation that had been awarded to more than 3000 Special Forces soldiers who had served in Afghanistan.

The Government announced this week it would increase the size of Australia’s fighting force by a third.

Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Mel Hupfeld, has another year to run on his contract.