ID :
202156
Thu, 08/18/2011 - 14:29
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/202156
The shortlink copeid
Defence chief tips fresh wave of reform
SYDNEY (AAP) - New Australian defence chief General David Hurley has tipped a fresh wave of reforms following the current series of reviews, including those launched after the so-called "Skype scandal".
Making his first major public speech, General Hurley said defence had to acknowledge it was not consistent in sticking to its values - and improvement was required.
He said it would be both arrogant and naive to claim that defence had all the answers.
"Clearly we do not," he told the 10th anniversary dinner of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI).
General Hurley said defence faced the challenge of continuing to deliver a high-quality combat force while implementing fundamental changes to its culture and practices.
He said the Australian Defence Force (ADF) needed to ensure its culture gave confidence to the people of Australia that it was a just, inclusive and fair-minded organisation.
The "Skype scandal" relates to an incident this year when a male cadet at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) filmed himself having consensual sex with a female cadet, streaming the imagery live to fellow male cadets in another room.
This prompted a series of six reviews into defence culture, including the role of women and social media and the culture at ADFA. They followed other reviews into capital procurement, naval maintenance and accountability, as well as the over-arching Strategic Reform Program.
General Hurley said each of these reviews was significant in its own right and as a whole they affected nearly every aspect of Defence business.
"When I look at the broad canvas that these reviews must illuminate, one thing is starkly clear - we cannot respond to the recommendations of these reviews in a piecemeal, review-by-review manner," he said.
General Hurley said simply turning several hundred recommendations emerging from these reviews from red to green traffic lights over five or more years would not produce change that people expected and nor would it improve Defence.
"We need a coherent and cogent response that we can explain to the government, the Australian people and to the members of the Defence organisation," he said.
General Hurley said the Defence Committee would consider the findings and recommendations of all of these reviews in consultation with new Defence Department Secretary Duncan Lewis as part of the Strategic Reform Program.
Making his first major public speech, General Hurley said defence had to acknowledge it was not consistent in sticking to its values - and improvement was required.
He said it would be both arrogant and naive to claim that defence had all the answers.
"Clearly we do not," he told the 10th anniversary dinner of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI).
General Hurley said defence faced the challenge of continuing to deliver a high-quality combat force while implementing fundamental changes to its culture and practices.
He said the Australian Defence Force (ADF) needed to ensure its culture gave confidence to the people of Australia that it was a just, inclusive and fair-minded organisation.
The "Skype scandal" relates to an incident this year when a male cadet at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) filmed himself having consensual sex with a female cadet, streaming the imagery live to fellow male cadets in another room.
This prompted a series of six reviews into defence culture, including the role of women and social media and the culture at ADFA. They followed other reviews into capital procurement, naval maintenance and accountability, as well as the over-arching Strategic Reform Program.
General Hurley said each of these reviews was significant in its own right and as a whole they affected nearly every aspect of Defence business.
"When I look at the broad canvas that these reviews must illuminate, one thing is starkly clear - we cannot respond to the recommendations of these reviews in a piecemeal, review-by-review manner," he said.
General Hurley said simply turning several hundred recommendations emerging from these reviews from red to green traffic lights over five or more years would not produce change that people expected and nor would it improve Defence.
"We need a coherent and cogent response that we can explain to the government, the Australian people and to the members of the Defence organisation," he said.
General Hurley said the Defence Committee would consider the findings and recommendations of all of these reviews in consultation with new Defence Department Secretary Duncan Lewis as part of the Strategic Reform Program.
