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Defence Governance Framework

Senior Committees

Defence Committee

The Defence Committee is the pre-eminent committee in Defence. Its role is to make decisions that assist in achieving the results specified in the Ministerial Directive to the Secretary and the Chief of the Defence Force. These include successful joint conduct of military operations, with the Chief of the Defence Force retaining sole command authority; provision of capability to enable our armed forces to defend Australia and its national interests; timely and responsive advice; proper stewardship of people and of financial and other resources, including operating within budgeted financial performance; and appropriate evaluation and reporting documents, including an annual Defence Management and Finance Plan, the Defence Capability Plan, and periodic strategic reviews and Defence White Paper 2000 reports.

The Defence Committee gives direction and assesses performance in delivering those results, with a focus on the longer term.

In 2003-04, members were the Secretary (chair), Chief of the Defence Force, Under Secretary Defence Materiel/Chief Executive Officer of the Defence Materiel Organisation, Vice Chief of the Defence Force/Chief Joint Operations, Chief of Navy, Chief of Army, Chief of Air Force, Chief of the Capability Development Group, Chief Defence Scientist, Chief Finance Officer, Deputy Secretary Corporate Services, Deputy Secretary Intelligence and Security, Deputy Secretary Strategy, Chief Information Officer, and Head Defence Personnel Executive.

The committee held 11 scheduled business meetings in 2003-04 and one extraordinary meeting. Attendance was as follows:

Table 1.18 Defence Committee Attendance
Position and Name Meetings Held Meetings Attended
Secretary (Mr Richard Smith) 12 11/1*
Chief of the Defence Force (General Peter Cosgrove) 12 9/3*
Under Secretary Defence Materiel    
(Mr Michael Roche until 15 August 2003) 2 2
(Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce - acting from 18 August 2003 until 11 February 2004) 5 5
(Air Vice-Marshal Norman Gray - acting from 12 February 2004 until 24 February 2004) 1 1**
Chief Executive Officer of the Defence Materiel Organisation
(Dr Stephen Gumley from 25 February 2004)		 5 5**
Vice Chief of the Defence Force/Chief Joint Operations
(Vice Admiral Russ Shalders)		 12 11/1*
Chief of Navy (Vice Admiral Chris Ritchie) 12 9/3*
Chief of Army (Lieutenant General Peter Leahy) 12 10/2*
Chief of Air Force (Air Marshal Angus Houston) 12 11/1*
Chief of the Capability Development Group
(Lieutenant General David Hurley from 22 December 2003) 		6 6
Chief Defence Scientist    
(Dr Ian Chessell until 7 October 2003) 3 3
(Dr Roger Lough from 8 October 2003) 9 8/1*
Chief Finance Officer (Mr Lloyd Bennett) 12 11/1*
Deputy Secretary Corporate Services (Mr Alan Henderson) 12 11/1*
Deputy Secretary Intelligence and Security (Mr Ron Bonighton) 12 11/1*
Deputy Secretary Strategy (Mr Shane Carmody) 12 9/3*
Chief Information Officer    
(Mr Patrick Hannan until 21 November 2003) 5 5**
(Air Vice-Marshal Julie Hammer - acting from 21 November 2003) 8 7**/1*
Head Defence Personnel Executive (Rear Admiral Brian Adams) 12 10/2*

* Substitute attended in place of member.
** Departing member and new member both attended one meeting together.

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Chiefs of Service Committee

The Chiefs of Service Committee provides military advice to the Chief of the Defence Force to assist him in discharging his responsibilities in command of the ADF, and as principal military adviser to the Government.

In 2003-04, membership comprised the Chief of the Defence Force (chair), the Secretary, Vice Chief of the Defence Force/Chief Joint Operations, Chief of Navy, Chief of Army and Chief of Air Force. Deputy Secretary Strategy is a permanently invited member.

The committee met 19 times in 2003-04. Attendance was as follows:

Table 1.19 Chiefs of Service Committee Attendance
Position and Name Meetings Held Meetings Attended
Chief of the Defence Force (General Peter Cosgrove) 19 18/1*
Secretary (Mr Richard Smith) 19 16
Vice Chief of the Defence Force/Chief Joint Operations
(Vice Admiral Russ Shalders)		 19 16/1*
Chief of Navy (Vice Admiral Chris Ritchie) 19 13/6*
Chief of Army (Lieutenant General Peter Leahy) 19 16/3*
Chief of Air Force (Air Marshal Angus Houston) 19 18/1*
Deputy Secretary Strategy (Mr Shane Carmody) 19 15/3*

* Substitute attended in place of member.

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