Defence Strategic Review: ‘Last resort’ deployment for domestic aid

The military should not be tasked with providing assistance to the community following natural disasters to help strengthen relief ­efforts.

The RAAF evacuated residents from the Kalkarindji area during major flooding in the Northern Territory in March. Picture: ADF

The military should not be tasked with providing assistance to the community following natural disasters to help strengthen relief ­efforts, with the federal government agreeing in principle for Defence to be the “force of last resort for domestic aid’’.

The review of Australia’s defence capability has recommended the federal government work with the states and territories to develop “resilience and response measures for adverse climate change at the local level without the need of ADF support”.

The review proposed that ­Defence be used only as a last ­resort for domestic aid in “extreme” emergencies, noting that it was “frequently required to make large contributions to domestic disaster relief efforts” including during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Defence is not structured or appropriately equipped to act as a domestic disaster recovery agency concurrently with its core function, in any sustainable way,” the review found.

But West Australian Premier Mark McGowan said that while his state had a capable disaster ­response organisation and “enormous” numbers of volunteers with experience in bushfires, ­cyclones and floods, Defence provided important back-up capabilities to state governments during disasters.

“I actually think Defence has an important role there and I do actually think it’s important training for them as well,” he said.

Defence played an important role during the record-breaking flooding that hit the Kimberley this year, helping to bring in supplies and evacuate people across the region.

In its response to the review, the government acknowledged the ADF’s role in providing assistance to the civil community following natural disasters came at a “cost to force preparedness, readiness and combat effectiveness”.

“The government will work in partnership with states and territories to further develop national resilience response mechanisms,” it said.

“The government will further develop and consider those recommendations that it has agreed to in-principle as part of the ­National Defence Strategy to be delivered in 2024.”

Anthony Albanese said the plan to stop the military from responding to domestic emergencies was a “serious suggestion” because climate change was leading to “more frequent and more intense natural disasters’’.

“The role of the Australian ­Defence Force is primarily not to deal with our natural disasters and those domestic issues, and that’s something that’s reflected in the review,” the Prime Minister said.

“As a result of this review and the transparency in which we’ve conducted it, obviously there will need to be further consideration of how we deal with these natural disasters.

“We need to, as a government, and as a nation, work out an appropriate response and the review is really indicating very clearly that that context can’t be just saying ‘oh well, we’ll rely upon the ­defence force’.”