Nation’s top brass to stay
Move ‘extraordinary’
THE Albanese government has taken the extraordinary step of extending the contracts of Australia’s three top military chiefs by two years as the country navigates one of the most complex national security positions it has faced since World War II.
Security analysts said you have to go back that far, when Australia was at war, to find similar extensions to the top level defence positions.
Chief of the Defence Force General Angus Campbell was expected to finish up in a week’s time but will now remain in the top job, as will his deputy Vice Admiral David Johnston and Chief of Joint Operations Lt General Greg Bilton.
Defence Minister Richard Marles said the government was aware of the “additional burden” placed on them for another two years, but said the expected end of their appointments came at too critical a time.
“The Albanese government is putting a premium on continuity,” Mr Marles said.
“This applies to strategic advice and the timely and effective delivery of key procurements including through the AUKUS framework.
“We arrive at a time which is as strategically complex as any since the end of the Second World War in terms of our national security and the needs of our defence procurement,” he said.
That complexity includes
AUKUS security pact which will see Australia receive tech on nuclear-powered submarines and hypersonic missiles, expansionist moves by China, challenges in the Pacific and the Russian war on Ukraine that threatens to engulf the world.
New appointments for the armed forces were expected during the pre-election period when government operations went into caretaker mode on May 21. But a hint their posts could be extended came when Mr Marles praised the men for their work.
The previous government did not enjoy a similar relationship.
Mr Marles said the Australian Defence Force, and through it the nation, needed stability in command and continuity in advice and defence capability.
“General Bilton’s continued leadership in the planning and conduct of our military campaigns and exercises will provide ongoing stability and certainty,” he said.
The immediate reaction of ANU’S professor of international security and intelligence and defence studies John Blaxland was “wow, that’s amazing”.
He said there was a compelling argument to extend the contract of three of the top military men in the country and believed the move was unprecedented.
“There is no question he (Campbell) is very well placed to manage the complexities of the challenges that we are facing at the moment and likely to face in the next few years,” Prof Blaxland said.