China dodge hits morale and recruitment

Imagine … you are thinking about a career in the Australian military. You care deeply about this country and have a sense of service that extends beyond self. You are smart, fit, and your teachers, trainers and peers have often noted that you have great leadership skills.

You’ve seen the headlines about a lack of ADF personnel and the opportunity to be part of a solution to a serious problem excites you.

You’re a little bit unsure though … you’ve also seen the headlines surrounding the royal commission into veteran suicide.

You’ve read about special forces officers who say they’ve been thrown under a bus, but you have seen no sign of a defence hierarchy defending them, nor, for that matter, publicly backing the majority of good men and women who have donned our uniform and risked their lives in combat.

But … still imagine … you aren’t completely put off yet – well, chances are that was until this week.

The final nail in the coffin of this military dream? Watching the Australian government handle China’s latest potentially lethal and unprovoked attack on our troops, which came in international waters.

‘‘Unprofessional,’’ our Prime Minister says … what? Unprofessional is wearing thongs to the office! ‘‘Unprofessional’’ is behaviour or a course of action that fails to meet standards of excellence that pertain to a corporate or academic field, an industry or service.

These flares that were dropped into the path of our Seahawk helicopter were much, much more than that.

Evasive action was required to dodge the flames; without it presumably the crew could have been killed. And not even a phone call to Xi? Our men and women sign up to serve this nation, and are willing to give their lives in the process.

Most probably assume that might occur when training for or sent to war – not when conducting peacetime missions and a bully swoops in.

The Chinese Communist Party does not respect or fear Australia. Albanese could be super nice about it and diplomatic if he wants … but please, we implore you, for the sake of our troops, our strategic security and our national pride, make the call!

This, of course, follows last year’s episode when a Chinese destroyer injured an Australian navy diver.

The incident was buried, purportedly, to protect and preserve a great photo opportunity of Albanese with Xi Jinping a couple of days later.

Imagine the thoughts of airmen and women, soldiers and sailors watching this. You fight for your nation in the hope those you serve have your back. How’s that looking right now?

There are some things that are worth at least – an uncomfortable conversation, and this is one of them.