Defence

Wordsmith

 

Remember the regions

Ric Smith

Recent figures confirm that over 65 percent of our civilian personnel are located in areas outside of Canberra - a figure that those of us in the Canberra region should keep well in mind. So much of our work, critical to operations and capability, is done in the regions - and I am always impressed by what they achieve. With so much of our recent focus in Canberra taken up with Senate Estimates and other committees, I would like to take this opportunity to remind civilian staff of our broader Defence operations.

As Secretary of the Department of Defence, I try to travel to our regions whenever possible, not only to survey the work being done but also to offer my support to our regional staff. In Canberra, our focus is often on strategy, policy, and the necessary processes of accountability. With such priorities in mind it is easy to forget the complexities involved in preparedness and capability issues. But for Defence, integrating what we'd like to do, and how this can be carried out, is often our biggest challenge. In the regions and on our bases, this challenge is tested regularly.

Preparedness is not just strategic awareness and responsiveness - it is a careful interplay of joint operations, logistics, infrastructure, administrative support, and training interactions at all levels. The strategic guidance we receive from Government needs to be implemented through our military capability. This, in turn, is provided by a combination of force structure and the preparedness of that structure for operations. Strategy and policy determine the activities of our forces, but can only be carried out if necessary infrastructure, training, administrative support, and logistics are in place.

For our personnel in regional areas, providing and maintaining these necessary services can be very trying. Particularly at our more remote bases, aspects of working life that we, in Canberra, take for granted are not always reliable. Services and resources, from stationery requisites through to equipment and communications, can be limited. Supplies need to travel great distances and take time to replace. Even the repair of machinery is difficult to organise if the necessary services aren't readily available. To get the job done, sometimes innovation and initiative necessarily replace the procedure and policy that defines our experience in Canberra.

It is not just the workplace environment that can be trying. On a personal level, living in regional areas sometimes requires sacrifices. The climate can be harsh and the accommodation more limited, making living conditions uncomfortable. Great distances separate our staff from their friends and families. Those that have their families with them face additional challenges. It is often difficult, for instance, for spouses to find work, and education choices for children are limited. Because of the remoteness of the regions and the smaller populations that reside there, families find it difficult to adjust to the different culture and limited amenities that they encounter. For those who aren't Defence staff, but are there to support loved ones, the experience can be frustrating and disappointing.

At the same time, Defence makes a sizeable contribution to regional Australia, and Defence-related contracts play a major role in their economies. Defence's capital facilities expenditure in the Northern Territory alone is approximately $25.9 million. Defence's expenditure in other states is also substantial - Queensland and Western Australia, for example, receive $154.9 million and $11.9 million respectively.

Many Defence activities impact positively on regional Australia. Our presence benefits the regions and territories through employment opportunities, the existence of high-end industry, community involvement and services, and increased housing developments. Defence also cooperates with regional governments on heritage issues and indigenous affairs. Our presence often provides services, opportunities, and infrastructure that might not otherwise exist for regional communities.

The Northern Territory, for example, regularly hosts visits from overseas and Australian Navy vessels, as well as defence training exercises and joint exercises with representatives of foreign defence services. The large Defence presence in Darwin, in turn, creates opportunities for the development of Darwin as a regional supply, service, and distribution centre.

Another example is the study carried out in Queensland on the socio-economic impact of Shoalwater Bay training area activities on the nearest city of Rockhampton. Defence activities in the region boosts the Central Queensland economy by $52.8 million, creating 728 full-time equivalent jobs. It is seen as a supporter of local businesses as well as a catalyst for improved infrastructure spending. Most people enjoyed the pride of showing off their region to visiting forces, and felt that the exchange of cultures was a positive aspect.

Defence also initiates community programmes that are of great benefit to both the communities and regional government. The Army Indigenous Community Assistance Programme, for example, provides soldiers and equipment to complete project management, construction, health care, and training support to selected indigenous communities. As a result of this programme, remote communities across Northern Australia now have essential housing infrastructure and training support that was not previously available to them.

Much is achieved in our regions and in Canberra, but from time to time we are all guilty of becoming "location-focused" in outlook. In Canberra, we are at risk of focusing on the broader national level issues and policies without adequately appreciating the capabilities and infrastructure needed to implement them. The regions, similarly, may be at risk of forgetting that broader issues affect the way we do business. Government needs us to be accountable and transparent in our operations - so administrative standards and process are necessary. The constantly changing international environment means that our priorities and interests must be flexible, and our capabilities need to adjust accordingly. Awareness of the challenges faced in each location will help us better achieve the tasks ahead of us.

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