Dutton asks Defence to give recruits workplace stability

The Defence Minister wants the frequency of locations for personnel to be reduced in an effort to increase retention.  

The ADF has been unabel to meet numerous recruitment targets over the past few years, especially for the army. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Peter Dutton has asked Defence to consider reducing the frequency of relocations for personnel in an effort to increase retention and meet the government’s goal of expanding the Australian Defence Force.

The Morrison government ­announced on Wednesday it would increase Australia’s army, air force and navy by a third with a $38bn investment over the next two decades.

There are about 60,000 uniformed ADF personnel serving today, with that number forecast to increase to 80,000 by 2040 – a level not seen since the Vietnam War. The total Defence workforce would rise to 101,000.

It comes as conflict continues in Europe, with officials warning that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intention to take Ukraine was likely the first step in a plan to recreate the Soviet Union. The Morrison government has warned China to take “the right lessons” from the war, with concerns about Beijing’s aim to take back Taiwan by force if necessary.

The Defence Minister ­acknowledged the increase would be a challenge given the difficulties already faced by the ADF to ­retain personnel.

Mr Dutton confirmed on Thursday he had tasked Defence with looking at ways to stabilise the workforce so an Australian could serve in the ADF long term without moving their spouses and children every few years.

“I’m conscious of the impact on predominantly mothers (and) wives in that arrangement, where a generation ago it might have been OK to ask the family and to move them to a new location every two or three years. But in the modern age, we’ve got to be conscious of the career of both people within that relationship,” he said.

“I’ve asked Defence to look at ways in which we can stabilise that workforce so that people can ­pursue their respective careers so that their children can have greater stability.”

The ADF has been unable to meet numerous recruitment targets over the past few years, ­especially for the army where Defence was 900 people short of its aim last financial year.