The Federal Government has announced plans to boost Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel numbers.
The ADF workforce has been in decline over recent years, prompting defence officials to develop recruitment and retention reforms.
On Tuesday, the Government announced it will spend over $600 million to increase bonus payments for some employees, to encourage people to join and stay in the ADF.
This includes a $40,000 incentive payment for workers who continue in the Defence Force past their minimum required service period.
ADF personnel numbers
The ADF has stated that its current workforce is around 20% below full capacity. This equates to a shortage of 4,400 personnel.
In June, the ADF announced it would begin recruiting foreign citizens to help boost numbers.
New Zealand, U.S, UK, and Canadian citizens who have lived in Australia for at least a year will be eligible.
Recruitment plan
In April, the Federal Government released its National Defence Strategy, which included a commitment to “fundamentally transform” retention and recruitment in the ADF.
Alongside the eligibility for certain non-citizens to join the defence force, the Government said the ADF should open recruitment to more people.
It said this would create a “wider pool of eligible applicants” which would lead to an increase in recruitment.
The strategy also involves “retention initiatives” to encourage existing ADF personnel to “stay and serve longer”.
One trial initiative already in place is an additional $50,000 payment to eligible individuals at the end of their initial service period.
The pilot program is not available to all staff and is due to end on 30 June 2025. The Department of Defence has now confirmed the program will be continued until 2028.
The incentive payment will be reduced to $40,000. However, the bonus will be expanded so that it’s available to more ADF personnel.
Bonus payment
According to Defence, there will be separate continuation bonus offers of $40,000 available “to members at two critical career decision points.“
One offer will be for “eligible permanent members, who have completed their initial service obligation and a minimum
of 4 years of service.”
The second is for, “eligible permanent members, who have served for a further 3 years past the completion of their initial service obligation and a minimum of 7 years of service.”
Workforce size
The ADF reports that between 2021 and 2023, its recruitment activities increased the workforce to 80% of its personnel target — 80,000 staff by 2040.
Defence Minister Richard Marles said the ADF needs to extend “the average term of service” for its personnel.
Currently, the average worker stays in the ADF for seven years. Marles said: “Our plan is to try and extend that through to 12 [years].”
Marles said the new workforce plan will support the recruitment and retention of a “highly specialised and skilled workforce”.
Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said these “necessary reforms” will “uplift” Australia’s defence industry.
Defence Personnel Minister Matt Keogh said the workforce plan focuses on “lasting institutional change” that’s aimed at “the health, safety and wellbeing of our people and ADF families.”
Opposition
Shadow Defence Minister Andrew Hastie’s office said there has been “a net decline in permanent workforce headcount” at the ADF.
It said a shrinking workforce “does not send a good message to our allies who are depending on us to meet our AUKUS commitments.” AUKUS is a military tech-sharing agreement between Australia, the UK, and the U.S.
Hastie’s office said encouraging more people to join the ADF should use messaging “that emphasises the ethos of service, duty, honour and country.”
