THE HON ANDREW HASTIE MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR DEFENCE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR DEFENCE INDUSTRY
SHADOW MINISTER FOR DEFENCE PERSONNEL
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR CANNING

PHILLIP THOMPSON OAM MP
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR DEFENCE
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR DEFENCE INDUSTRY
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR DEFENCE PERSONNEL
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR HERBERT

JOINT STATEMENT ON LABOR’S CHANGES TO ADF RECRUITMENT

Tuesday 4 June 2024

We want to see more Australians serving in the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

That should be the priority.

However, less than one month after Labor’s Budget revealed an ADF personnel shortfall of 5,000 people, the Albanese Government has given up on addressing the domestic recruitment problem.

It's clear that Labor isn’t revealing the full extent of their plan, with the Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans’ Affairs stating in a media interview that from next year, “any permanent resident in Australia…” would be able to apply.

This contradicts Labor’s media release which appears to limit eligibility to permanent residents from New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada.

Which further conflicts with media reporting on the policy including citizens from Pacific Islands.

Just hours into an announcement and Labor can’t keep their story straight.

Defence Minister Richard Marles should stand up today and be honest with the Australian people about Labor’s plan for recruitment of foreign citizens to the ADF.

Under Labor, morale in our ADF is at rock bottom.

Labor cannot be trusted on defence, not on funding, capability, or people.

The Coalition will use Senate Estimates over the next few days to seek further detail on this announcement.