Australia Releases Defense Consultation Report (Nov. 9)
The Minister for Defence, John Moore, today released the outcomes of the first national consultation process on Defence, Australian Perspectives on Defence: the Report of the Community Consultation Team.
The Community Consultation Team (CCT) comprised The Hon. Andrew Peacock, (Chairman), Dr David MacGibbon, Mr Stephen Loosley and Major General Adrian Clunies-Ross (Retd).
"The Community Consultation Process (CCP) was the first of its kind by any Australian Government, an innovative and highly valuable approach to policy development on important defence and security issues," Mr Moore said.
"The feedback received is contributing to formulation of the upcoming Defence White Paper, which will map out Australia's defence requirements and policies for the next 10 to 20 years."
The CCP commenced on 27th June with the release of the Defence Public Discussion Paper and continued until early September. More than 2,000 people attended 28 public meetings around Australia, and in excess of 1,157 submissions were received from interested individuals, industry and community organisations.
"The consultation process revealed broad community consensus on fundamentally important defence issues. Most Australians see the ADF's primary role as the defence of Australia by a defence force that is professionally trained, combat-ready and technologically advanced.
"While this is the overriding concern for most people who contributed to the Process, there also is strong support for the ADF to have the ability to undertake peacekeeping missions, particularly in our near region.
"Other important contributions were made on the role of the Reserves and industry in maintaining our defence capability at a high level. There also appears to be broad public support for an increase in funding for Defence, provided Defence itself demonstrates an ability and willingness to manage its resources in an efficient and accountable manner.
"As Minister for Defence, I am especially pleased to note the community's very high regard for the men and women of the ADF, and in particular their pride in the way they have done their job in East Timor and Bougainville.
"The Government and defence planners have heeded all this feedback. Without doubt, the Community Consultation Process has been a very worthwhile, positive exercise.
"I wish to express my sincere thanks to The Hon. Andrew Peacock and all members of the Team. They embraced the concept with great enthusiasm and professionalism. "Certainly, they have delivered on behalf of the people of Australia, and in so doing, have made a significant contribution to the future of our nation's defence policy," said Mr Moore.
