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

STATEMENT
LABOR CUTS ADF WORKFORCE TARGETS AS PERSONNEL NUMBERS SHRINK

Tuesday 5 November 2024

After more than two years of declining Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel numbers, the Albanese Government has finally released its Defence Workforce Plan.

However, Labor has serious questions to answer around its personnel targets after bringing its workforce requirements from 63,597 in May, down to 58,850 – a decrease of 4,747 ADF personnel. Shrinking the target doesn't excuse the Albanese Government from their failure.

The Albanese Government repeatedly warns that we are in the most dangerous strategic environment since the end of the Second World War, yet their actions don’t match their words.

Labor must explain why, at a time of strategic importance, they are significantly shrinking our ADF.

The recently released Defence Annual Report shows that the ADF is smaller today than it was 12 months ago, with a net decline in permanent workforce headcount down in absolute terms. It hasn't taken Labor long to reach this concerning turning point.

Today's Defence Workforce Plan also reveals that the ADF has shrunk by a further 1,058 personnel in just months under Labor, with personnel numbers falling from 58,284 in May to 57,226.

While our ADF shrinks under the Albanese Government, the population continues to rapidly increase, up more than 1.4 million people since Labor came to government.

This does not send a good message to our allies, who are depending on us to meet our AUKUS commitments. Nor does it signal strength to our adversaries, who are watching closely for weakness.

Instead of providing a long-term solution to the recruitment shortfall in the ADF, Labor is spending an additional $600 million that it doesn’t have to retain personnel.

We must look to how we can attract personnel into the ADF with a message that emphasises the ethos of service, duty, honour and country.

But Labor is sending the wrong message through $80 billion in cuts and reprioritisations to Defence, lengthy delays, and now degradation of personnel numbers.

The Albanese Government continues to prove it is weak, has no plan for the ADF, and is not equipped to defend Australia.

ENDS