In late 2000, there was a growing awareness that the number of parliamentarians who had direct experience with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) had diminished markedly. Defence took the position that it needed to increase parliamentarian’s exposure to the ADF and provide them with an opportunity to gain an insight into the ADF and its capabilities. In turn, this was expected to assist parliamentarians in the facilitation of a more fulsome Defence debate on issues of national security and budgetary expenditure, issues which had attracted increased attention through the nineties as a result of heightened world events.
The ADF Parliamentary Program (ADFPP) was derived from a British Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme which has been operating successfully since 1986. The stated aim of the ADFPP was, and remains, to provide Senators and Members of Parliament with practical experiences of the ADF so that they can play a more informed and constructive part in the Defence debate. The program has the following objectives:
- provide an understanding of a unit's role and missions,
- provide an opportunity to experience life as a service person, and
- provide an awareness and understanding of Defence capabilities, personnel and management issues.
In January 2001, the Minister for Defence Hon John Moore, MP, approved an initial concept for the program, and in February 2001 the Hon David Hawker, MP, introduced a Private Member's Bill (seconded by the Hon Warren Snowdon MP). The Bill received unanimous bipartisan support.
A range of attachments options were developed by the three Services and were offered to Senators for the 2001 Parliamentary winter recess period. The Minister for Defence delegated responsibility for the program to the Hon Dr Brendan Nelson, MP, Parliamentary Secretary, in June 2001. The Parliamentary Secretary subsequently approved seven Senators and one MP to participate in the pilot program.
Following the success of the pilot program, the Minister for Defence approved its ongoing implementation in January 2002. The current head of the ADFPP, Air Commodore Andrew Elfversen, assumed responsibilities in January 2013.
Current Activities
During 2013, 19 attachment options are offered. The Middle East Gulf Region and Afghanistan operational options remain at the forefront of the program. Activities for this option include undertaking an operational naval patrol on an ANZAC frigate in the Gulf of Aden, or engaging in activities with service personnel on deployment at Tarin Kot and Kandahar in Afghanistan.
Attachments to other Areas of Operation include the longstanding Border Protection activity to the North and the ADF's Regional Assistance to the Solomon Islands, which will complete this year.
Options within the three services in Australia include attachment options to Navy’s Fleet Base West with a focus on the Collins submarine, to Army's major firepower exercise CHONG JU, or to Air Force's RAAF Base Williamtown, home of the F/A 18 Hornet and the new Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft.
Over the life of the program 293 attachment options have been undertaken by federal parliamentarians: 110 by Senators and 183 by Members of the House of Representatives. Many parliamentarians have undertaken successive options over a number of yearsThe Exchange Element
In 2003, an exchange element was introduced into the program. Selected members of the ADF were attached to Parliament House for a week to observe the workings of Government and spend time observing and participating in the daily work schedule of individual parliamentarians (usually from those who have participated in program attachments). Six officers were attached in 2004 and the exchange is now a permanent part of the ADFPP, having expanded to up to 15 Defence personnel from all ranks.