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Implementing the White Paper

Initiatives to Improve Capability

Land Forces Goal

The flexibility and effectiveness of the current land force component of the ADF has been demonstrated over the past year by the range of operations in which it successfully participated. These operations ranged from peacekeeping and peace-monitoring activities in East Timor and Bougainville to the more intensive operations in the war on Iraq.

In 2002-03, a number of milestones were achieved to meet the capability goals outlined by the Government. Some of the most significant for the Army were the establishment of the Special Operations Command, the formation of a second Tactical Assault Group, the provision of a second deployable Joint Task Force Headquarters and the creation of an Incident Response Regiment. These enhancements also contributed significantly to the ADF's strike capabilities.

Under Project Bushranger, the infantry mobility vehicle underwent reliability qualification testing from October to December 2002. The vehicle passed the required reliability levels and the project has entered the low rate initial production stage of the contract. Planning to improve future land forces capability saw the approval of a number of acquisition proposals, including the M113 vehicle fleet upgrade, a direct fire weapon, another phase of the battlefield command support system, the provision of digital communication systems to selected force elements, enhanced combat bridging equipment and enhanced electronic warfare self protection systems for C-130H aircraft and Black Hawk helicopters.

[ Read more: Output Three: Army Capabilities ]

Air Combat Goal

2002-03 saw continued progress in activities to enhance Australia's air combat capability. Upgrades to the F/A-18 Hornet fleet continued as planned, and the introduction into service of new beyond and within visual range air-to-air weapons is nearing completion. Combat operations as part of Operation Falconer highlighted the ability of the F/A-18 Hornets to undertake a range of roles, including air control and strike, and to operate effectively with coalition forces.

The project to acquire four airborne early warning and control aircraft continued to meet its project goals. Key milestones included delivery of the first aircraft for modification and completion of a number of critical design review milestones. The construction of a squadron headquarters building to support the introduction of the aircraft commenced in May 2003 as part of the RAAF Williamtown redevelopment.

Planning to improve future air combat force capability saw the approval of a number of acquisition proposals, including air-to-air refuelling aircraft and further project activities in support of the new aerospace combat capability proposal to replace the air dominance and strike capabilities currently provided by the F/A-18 and F-111 aircraft fleets. The Government also approved Australia's participation in the system development and demonstration phase of the Joint Strike Fighter program.

[ Read more: Output Four: Air Force Capabilities ]

Maritime Forces Goal

The capabilities of the ADF's maritime forces were demonstrated in operations throughout the year, particularly through their support to coalition operations in the Persian Gulf.

The Anzac ship Parramatta was delivered in June 2003, while ship number nine in this class, Toowoomba, was launched in May. As part of the installation of evolved SeaSparrow missiles onto the Anzac-class and FFG-class frigates, the first Australian missile firing was successfully conducted from HMAS Warramunga in January.

All six Collins-class submarines have been delivered and provisionally accepted by the Navy. The sixth submarine, HMAS Rankin, was comissioned in March 2003 with the class shock trial completed in June. In March, Defence signed a memorandum of understanding with the US Navy to jointly develop, produce and support a replacement heavyweight torpedo for the Collins-class submarines.

Planning to improve future maritime forces capability saw the approval of a number of acquisition proposals, including the Nulka active missile decoy system, Anzac mine and obstacle avoidance sonar and CEA Technologies' phased array radar development.

[ Read more: Output Two: Navy Capabilities ]

Strike Goal

Extensive work was conducted to maintain ADF strike capabilities through enhancing Australia's F-111 and F/A-18 aircraft. It included continuation of electronic warfare self-protection upgrades and the ongoing acquisition of an air-to-surface stand-off weapon system for the F-111s. These strike enhancements are in addition to the significant improvements to the Special Forces' abilities outlined under the land forces goal, and other enhancements to the ADF's ships and submarines.

Information Goal

The two operational sites of the Jindalee Operational Radar Network commenced operations in May 2003, establishing a comprehensive early warning network across Australia's northern approaches. In June, the C1 communications satellite was successfully launched. Defence will commence operational use of the satellite in September 2003 following completion of post-launch test and evaluation.

In 2002-03, Defence appointed a coordinating capability manager to bring greater coherence to the management of Defence's information environment. Work on developing the ADF into a more network-centric force was highlighted by the release of a concept paper Enabling Multidimensional Manoeuvre. Significant progress was also made in ensuring the timely provision of intelligence support to deployed ADF units and in developing new techniques and systems to comprehend and counter terrorist threats.

New enhancements to ADF information capabilities included the approval of a number of acquisition proposals including an enhanced geospatial information system, accredited secure intelligence facilities, space-based surveillance and project development activities to enhance the ADF global positioning system. Approval was also given for Defence to undertake a trial of a high frequency surface wave radar system in conjunction with Coastwatch.

[ Read more: Defence Information Environment ]

People Goal

A strategic workforce planning review was completed in 2002-03 against a background of significant pressure on Defence, including increased operational commitments, a changing demographic and social environment and rising personnel costs. The report provided Defence with an approach to planning that addresses high priority workforce risks to capability in terms of skills, personnel numbers and costs over the next 10 to 20 years.

Other major people initiatives undertaken in 2002-03 focused on the importance of attracting, recruiting, developing and retaining the right people. The key initiatives outlined below are underpinned by the need for competitive remuneration, a challenging, diverse workplace and flexible working arrangements.

The Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal progressed ADF remuneration and service allowance issues. The tribunal's decisions, based on the 2003 Review of Service Allowance, included a 19.9 per cent increase in service allowance to ADF members below the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and equivalent. The Remuneration Reform Program, currently in progress, proposes a phased approach to rationalising some elements of existing allowances with the aim of developing a new pay structure for the ADF by the end of 2003-04.

Implementation of the principles-based Defence Employees Certified Agreement 2002-03 progressed well. Positive feedback was received from staff during consultation workshops for the replacement agreement.

A more targeted approach was taken to education and training through initiatives which included the Defence business skilling review, the e-learning strategy and the negotiation of a new agreement between Defence and the University of New South Wales for the provision of educational services at the Australian Defence Force Academy.

A new military compensation and rehabilitation scheme was developed based on compensation principles that address current and future ADF needs. The new scheme combines traditional entitlements with modern compensation principles. The draft legislation for the new scheme has been released for consultation and is expected to be introduced into Parliament during 2003-04.

Continuous improvement was sought in the delivery of health services to the ADF, including implementing the ADF mental health strategy and pilot testing the Defence injury prevention program. The program has already resulted in reductions in injury rates in the initial sample selected.

The 2002-03 budget also continued the Government's White Paper commitment to allocate $100m per year for high-priority personnel initiatives totalling $500m over five years. Spending on these initiatives has accelerated in the past two years in conjunction with improved financial management and reporting arrangements. Details are shown in Table 1.3.

Table 1.3: High Priority People Initiatives
Approved Program 2001-02
Result		 2002-03
Result		 2003-04
Allocations		 Total
$'000 $'000 $'000 $'000
Family support fund(1) 100 - - 100
Childcare centres 1,025 808 4,870 6,703
Spouse induction program 169 49 - 218
Spouse professional fees and courses 14 50 98 162
Emergency childcare 7 5 172 184
Human resource career streaming 76 135 - 211
ADF alcohol management program 48 313 1,781 2,142
ADF mental health strategy 309 159 632 1,100
Defence school transition aides - 1,388 1,517 2,905
E-learning - 2,610 3,160 5,770
OH&S management system - 348 870 1,218
Defence injury prevention program - 14 543 557
Reserves enhancement 12,313 13,674 17,515 43,502
Cadets enhancement 3,030 7,676 6,900 17,606
ADF rental allowance for members without dependents 25,511 49,655 73,447 148,613
Improvements to living-in accommodation - 39,167 5,270 44,437
Darwin air conditioning - 603 3,166 3,769
Duntroon community centre - 660 - 660
Defence library service portal - 275 328 603
Services workforce access program for partners - - 1,235 1,235
Centre for Military and Veterans' Health - - 900 900
Total 42,602 117,589 122,404 282,595
Total allocation 100,000 100,000 100,000 300,000
Variation -57,398 17,589 22,404 -17,405
Note
  1. The family support fund was allocated $100,000 in 2001-02 as a regenerating fund.

The recruitment and retention initiatives brought pleasing results, consistent with the Government's goals for Defence people as outlined in the White Paper. These achievements included:

[ Read more: Chapter Five: People Matter ]