Defence

Cover story

Action plan

What are the key priorities for 2005? The Senior Leadership Group have been left in no doubt by the CDF and Secretary.

Harry Baxter reports on the introduction of a key strategic document which outlines specifically what Defence has to achieve this year.

Side story: The other side of the mountain |

235 Defence leaders filled Blamey Theatre at the Australian Defence College.

CDF General Peter Cosgrove

Members of the Defence Committee

Secretary Ric Smith

Defence's senior leaders are in no doubt what the three priorities are for this year - extending Defence's military excellence, developing excellence in management and enhancing policy standing.

In the first Senior Leadership Group summit for this year, held at the Australian Defence College in Canberra on February 4, CDF General Peter Cosgrove and Secretary of Defence Ric Smith issued Defence Priorities 2005.

In a covering note to the senior leadership group, General Cosgrove and Mr Smith described Defence Priorities 2005 as a "concise, plain English representation of the key areas of focus for the year ahead".

"We commend this document to you in your continuing efforts to provide context and guidance for your people in their day-to-day endeavours, and to strengthen accountability for results in your organisations," they said.

Defence has an array of detailed planning and strategy processes for both management and the conduct of operations, and many of these documents involve a mix of short and longer-term perspectives of our business.

Defence Priorities 2005 is not designed to be a complex plan of this kind, and does not replace or overtake these other key Defence planning initiatives.

It nominates the accountable Group or Service head for each specific initiative.

The priorities include a number of significant commitments made during the 2004 Federal election, reflecting elements of the Government's agenda for its fourth term in office.

"This is a very practical application of one of the continuing themes of what is labelled as the renewal agenda in Defence," the Chief of Staff Australian Defence Headquarters, Michael Pezzullo, says.

"With a document that derives from direct discussions with the Minister, and clearly demonstrates where Defence needs to focus in 2005 - we're not just talking about alignment now, this is about achieving alignment with Government.

"It doesn't mean that if something is missing from the priorities document it is somehow not important.

"It has been emphasised to the senior leadership group that we need to get on with our enduring business and, in doing so, deliver on some of these specific, short-term goals."

Defence Priorities 2005 has been built around three overarching themes, though there are obvious links both within and across the three themes.

Extend our military excellence

This theme continues to deliver on Defence's agreed operational commitments here and around the world. Preparedness, capability and safety targets continue to be key indicators of the ADF's ability to conduct and sustain military operations as directed by the Government.

The priorities under this theme reflect a balance between current challenges and future capability development issues, along with single Service initiatives focusing on people and balancing the force.

As one of the key recommendations of the 2003 Kinnaird review, improving the accuracy of cost forecasts and other key elements of capability submissions remains a key priority.

Specific, current-year acquisition milestones in the Defence Capability Plan (in particular the air warfare destroyer, amphibious ships and air combat capability) are also given visibility.

Other priorities under this theme for 2005 include implementing Government election commitments to establish a Joint Offshore Protection Command, deliver a strategy for the joint combined training capability with the US and establish collaborative science and technology arrangements in support of counter-terrorism efforts.

Excellence in management

This theme reflects the need to improve and sustain individual accountability for results.

This is not an end in itself, but focuses on leading people and managing Defence's resources to deliver efficient and effective support for the ADF.

Specific initiatives for 2005 under this theme include implementing financial statements remediation plans across all priority areas (such as accrual entries, personnel records, stocktaking and inventory management).

The work already underway to achieve prescribed agency status for DMO by July 1 and the introduction of certification and other initiatives to improve project management skills are also included.

CSIG support services, and the immediate outcomes required to deliver long-term improvements in ADF base disposition are also featured.

Enhance Defence's policy standing

The third theme reflects the recent emphasis on the need to work effectively within Defence, and just as importantly across government, to deliver high-quality advice.

Specific priorities under this theme include strengthening Defence's voice in whole-of-Government dialogue on regional affairs, Defence export controls and counter- proliferation.

Enhancing the US alliance is another key priority, as is developing the strategic policy workforce and continuing efforts in implementing reforms in the Defence intelligence agencies.

The Defence Priorities 2005 document is supported by clear lines of accountability, and reporting time frames, to allow for monitoring progress.

Harry Baxter is Director of Governance in Coordination, Governance and Renewal Branch.

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