THE MINISTER for Defence recently announced plans to recruit people aged 55 and over following a growing personnel shortage in Australia’s military
THE MINISTER for Defence has announced plans to recruit people aged 55 and over, following a growing personnel shortage in Australia’s military.
The age cap on full-time staff in the defence forces should be lifted to bring the military in line with demographic trends affecting private sector workforces, according to Defence Minister Brendan Nelson.
“Why can’t we have people who might be well into their 50s, where there’s a whole variety of tasks that might be undertaken that don’t involve flying planes or marching 20 kilometres with a backpack?”Nelson said.
Air Chief Marshal Houston supported the Minister’s comments, but said recruits aged 55 and over should not serve in frontline positions.
The Federal Budget recently revealed the Australian Defence Force is currently 1,500 short of its personnel targets.
Shadow Minister for Defence Robert McClelland said the Defence budget overwhelmingly prioritises equipment over people.
“Recruitment and retention of military personnel now stands as the number one strategic challenge for Australia’s defence, but this Budget fails to fund adequate solutions,” he said.
“The $68 million Budget measure ‘for a variety of recruitment and retention initiatives’ appears to be met from within existing Defence resources.”
He also noted that the Budget projected an immediate fall in the total number of military personnel.
