Coronavirus: ADF puts ‘boots on the ground’ at states’ asking

The military call-out that will help enforce the crackdown on quarantine breaches is based on an agreement with the states.

Defence Minister Linda Reynolds. Picture: Getty Images

The military call-out that will help enforce the crackdown on quarantine breaches is based on an agreement with the states that sidesteps a need for unilateral federal action.

The Australian Defence Force has been activated under the Defence Assistance to the Civil Community arrangements and has been put into effect at the request of the states.

So while troops will be assisting state authorities, they have not been officially called out under the powers vested in the federal government by laws enacted after the 2014 Lindt cafe siege in Sydney.

Scott Morrison made it clear on Friday that the ADF has not been authorised as enforcement officers — that remains the responsibility of law enforcement officers in the states. The ADF role will be to “support compliance” with the tougher quarantine arrangements, the Prime Minister said.

The request by the states for assistance from the ADF eases the risk that their presence on the streets could trigger political blowback on the government.

In 2018, when parliament gave federal government streamlined powers to call out the military, Defence Minister Linda Reynolds, who was then assistant home affairs minister, said an incident justifying a call-out had to be of sufficient magnitude and gravity.

The Greens said the powers meant the nation was “sleepwalking towards authoritarianism”.

The new scheme was put in place by the Defence Amendment (Call Out the Australian Defence Force) Bill, which changed provisions in the Defence Act. It gives the government authority to call out the military in sudden and extraordinary emergencies. Those orders can be issued by the prime minister, two authorising ministers or an authorising minister and alternative minister.

Mr Morrison said on Friday he had no doubt the ADF would undertake its responsibilities “in the most sensitive way they can — but it is necessary”.

The ADF will support the states by making compliance checks to ensure people in quarantine are at the places where they have sworn to remain. State authorities will be respon­sible for taking action against those who don’t comply, “but the ADF will be there to put boots on the ground to support their enforcement efforts,” Mr Morrison said.