Post by ppyenews on Aug 25, 2006 0:04:03 GMT -5
Welcome to ‘Talkback Topic’ – I’m Phillip Pye.
Prime Minister John Howard this week announced a plan to boost Army personnel levels with an intake of a further 2600 troops and at the same time announced to increase staffing levels of the Australian Federal Police by 400. The reason why we need a bigger Australian Army he says, is self-evident. “This country faces ongoing, and in my opinion, increasing instances of de-stabilised and failing states in our own region. I believe in the next 10 to 20 years Australia will face a number of situations the equivalent of, or potentially more challenging than the Solomon Island's and East Timor” - he says.
Mr Howard says the army needs to go from six battalions to eight, to make the defence force "stronger, more versatile and adaptable" and the additional Federal Police for the international deployment group (IDG) will increase the IDG unit to about 1,200," he said. The expected cost is about $10 billion. Neil James from the Defence Association says as well as more soldiers, the Army needs better equipment.
Neil James says that the days of the light infantry Aussie solder strolling around the South Pacific and South-East Asia equipped only with his shirt and now the addition of body armour are long gone. He says - “We need an army with infantry fighting vehicles and probably ‘more’ than the 59 tanks Australia is currently buying”.
Contrary to what some people may think, a job in the Army even these days is not highly paid and the regular changes in postings can be quite a burden to the many Armed Force Personnel, particularly those with families. These are just some of the reasons why an Army career is not as attractive as it used to be. The Government realises this now, and aims to make the prospect of a career in the Army more inviting. They also appear to be relaxing the conditions of employment criteria.
Defence Minister Brendan Nelson says - “people that admit to having used elicit drugs in the past, whilst we would very strongly maintain a zero tolerance approach to drugs for people in the army and the services, that's one of the issues the Chiefs have reviewed. Those suffering asthma, have tattoos, adverse body weight, and a variety of things who were not previously accepted, will also be considered.
Brendan Nelson also says – “we're also looking at age, there are many tasks that can be done in the Australian Defence Force which can easily be done by people well into their 40s and their 50s”. Quite correct Mr. Nelson, pity the private sector doesn’t do more in that area also.
The fact is Mr Howard, and Mr Nelson, some will see it differently. What many will see is they are living in a country where it’s leaders are increasing it’s overseas forces whilst leaving the “Grey Army” to tackle the administration here. It’s all very well but what about the possibility of confrontation in our own backyard. Who’s going to protect the Mums and Dads, the Nana’s and the Pops, the young ones, the little ones that are innocently doing nothing when Australia gets attacked for being involved in everybody else’s troubles? What comes next to protect our own backyard Mr. Howard and Mr. Nelson – “The Home Guard”?
I’m Phillip Pye.
Prime Minister John Howard this week announced a plan to boost Army personnel levels with an intake of a further 2600 troops and at the same time announced to increase staffing levels of the Australian Federal Police by 400. The reason why we need a bigger Australian Army he says, is self-evident. “This country faces ongoing, and in my opinion, increasing instances of de-stabilised and failing states in our own region. I believe in the next 10 to 20 years Australia will face a number of situations the equivalent of, or potentially more challenging than the Solomon Island's and East Timor” - he says.
Mr Howard says the army needs to go from six battalions to eight, to make the defence force "stronger, more versatile and adaptable" and the additional Federal Police for the international deployment group (IDG) will increase the IDG unit to about 1,200," he said. The expected cost is about $10 billion. Neil James from the Defence Association says as well as more soldiers, the Army needs better equipment.
Neil James says that the days of the light infantry Aussie solder strolling around the South Pacific and South-East Asia equipped only with his shirt and now the addition of body armour are long gone. He says - “We need an army with infantry fighting vehicles and probably ‘more’ than the 59 tanks Australia is currently buying”.
Contrary to what some people may think, a job in the Army even these days is not highly paid and the regular changes in postings can be quite a burden to the many Armed Force Personnel, particularly those with families. These are just some of the reasons why an Army career is not as attractive as it used to be. The Government realises this now, and aims to make the prospect of a career in the Army more inviting. They also appear to be relaxing the conditions of employment criteria.
Defence Minister Brendan Nelson says - “people that admit to having used elicit drugs in the past, whilst we would very strongly maintain a zero tolerance approach to drugs for people in the army and the services, that's one of the issues the Chiefs have reviewed. Those suffering asthma, have tattoos, adverse body weight, and a variety of things who were not previously accepted, will also be considered.
Brendan Nelson also says – “we're also looking at age, there are many tasks that can be done in the Australian Defence Force which can easily be done by people well into their 40s and their 50s”. Quite correct Mr. Nelson, pity the private sector doesn’t do more in that area also.
The fact is Mr Howard, and Mr Nelson, some will see it differently. What many will see is they are living in a country where it’s leaders are increasing it’s overseas forces whilst leaving the “Grey Army” to tackle the administration here. It’s all very well but what about the possibility of confrontation in our own backyard. Who’s going to protect the Mums and Dads, the Nana’s and the Pops, the young ones, the little ones that are innocently doing nothing when Australia gets attacked for being involved in everybody else’s troubles? What comes next to protect our own backyard Mr. Howard and Mr. Nelson – “The Home Guard”?
I’m Phillip Pye.