Defence: Personnel

Senator Bourne asked the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 11 March 2002:

1. What appeal and complaint mechanisms exist for cadets and adult instructors of cadets with regard to decisions of state unit commanders and staff officers of the Australian Defence Force Cadets.
2. Why is there a compulsory retirement age of 60, with a 2-year discretionary extension, for adult instructors of cadets.
3. What progress has been made in implementing the recommendations of the Topley Report, Cadets in the Future, dated 2000.

Senator Hill - The answer to the honourable senator's questions is as follows:

1. Adult volunteers and cadets of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) Cadets are able to state any grievance through the chain of command. If the issue cannot be resolved at a given level, then the complainant can take the matter to the next level. The chain of command for each of the Services is as follows:
   
   Navy - Commanding Officer Training Ship (Cadet Unit), Senior Officer Area Headquarters, Local Naval Authority (for example, commanding officer of the controlling naval establishment), Director Australian Navy Cadets, Director General Navy Personnel and Training, Chief of Navy.
   
   Army - Commanding Officer Cadet Unit, Commanding Officer Regional Headquarters, Commander Australian Army Cadets, Chief of Army.
   
   Air Force - Commanding Officer Cadet Squadron, Officer Commanding Wing (Regional) Headquarters, Commander Australian Air Force Cadets, Director General Personnel - Air Force, Chief of Air Force.
2. The retirement age for instructors and officers is covered under the Cadet Forces Regulations 1977. There is provision for extensions beyond 60 years of age. Paragraph 12 of the regulations states:
   
   

   "(1) Subject to sub-regulation (2), an instructor or officer in a cadet force shall retire from the cadet force on attaining the age of 60 years.
   
   (2) A service chief [or delegate] may extend the appointment of an instructor or officer beyond the age of 60 years for 1 or more successive periods of 2 years if:
   
   (a)the instructor or officer consents to the extension; and
   
   (b)at the time of the extension, the instructor or officer is suitable for further service; and
   
   (c)the extension would be in the interest of the cadet force."

3. In December 1999, the then Parliamentary Secretary commissioned a strategic review of the Australian Services Cadet Scheme. The Topley Report, Cadets: The Future was released publicly on 8 December 2000.
   
   The Government considered a submission on the future of the cadets in April 2001. While the Government did not address every recommendation in the Topley Report, it did accept the overall thrust of the Report and many of the specific initiatives. Defence has proposed a three year implementation program. Details of that program and the various initiatives are as follows:
   1. $24 million annually in support plus an additional $6 million from 2001-02 to fund the cadet enhancement program. $6 million was allocated in the Defence Budget 2001-02;
   2. adoption of contemporary names (ADF Cadets, Australian Navy Cadets, Australian Army Cadets and Australian Air Force Cadets). New names have been fully adopted although legislation is yet to be amended;
   3. appointment of a Director-General of Cadets responsible to the Chief of the Defence Force. Major General Darryl Low Choy was appointed in April 2001;
   4. establishment of the Directorate of Defence Force Cadets to provide strategic policy guidance for the Australian Defence Force Cadets and management of the cadet enhancement program. The Directorate was established in September 2001;
   5. the Topley Report recommended that the Commonwealth accept responsibility for all cadet accommodation. The Government agreed that a detailed cost analysis is undertaken by 30 June 2002 and a report prepared for consideration by the Minister for Defence;
   6. project to deliver computing facilities to cadet units, including the provision of simplified, online administrative systems. Computer hardware has been distributed to units in Tasmania, Northern Territory, northern Queensland and Victoria. Delivery of the remaining computers is expected to be completed by May 2002. In addition, work has commenced on the Cadetnet project to link all units via the Internet in order to enhance administrative support and information access. Cadetnet is planned to be operational by the end of 2002;
   7. enhanced safety awareness through the design of tailor-made training courses and information packages for cadets and their adult supervisors. The Director-General of Cadets issued a Safety Management Policy Statement in December 2001 along with a document entitled "Occupational Health and Safety Awareness for Officers and Instructors of Cadets and Supervisors". Training packages for officers and instructors of cadets were completed in March 2002 and training will be completed from April through July 2002. A tri-Service Cadet Safety Management Policy and Procedures manual planned to be issued in September 2002. Ongoing activity;
   8. improved arrangements for the provision of uniforms and equipment. The current shortfall of uniforms is being rectified and will ensure that the total cadet population has access to the standard entitlement. Ongoing activity including monitoring of uniform and equipment availability;
   9. project to enhance the participation of indigenous youth in ADF Cadets. A strategic plan is being developed in consultation with relevant stakeholders. Preliminary activities have begun with units such as NORFORCE in the Northern Territory. Ongoing activity;
   10. continued involvement of ADF personnel to support cadet activities. This is an ongoing activity and will be incorporated into the annual programs of the three Services;
   11. codification of the relationship between Defence and the adult volunteer staff, including appointment and termination and codes of behaviour. It is planned to complete this work by July 2002;
   12. appointment of Regional Coordinators to foster increased regional collaboration among cadet units, and to assist with the implementation of the enhancement program. Detailed work on this initiative is to commence in 2002-03;
   13. enhanced military-like training activities, including the voluntary handling and firing of military firearms under ADF supervision and with parental permission. This is an ongoing activity and will be incorporated into the annual programs of the three Services;
   14. national accreditation of cadet and adult staff training. Some leadership programs for cadets have been accredited. Ongoing activity;
   15. collaboration with other youth development organisations, including assessing sponsorship options. This is an ongoing activity and contact has already been initiated. The inaugural national conference of ADF Cadets will take place on 20-21 April 2002 in Sydney. Participation at the conference will involve representatives from youth development organisations, for example, AUSYOUTH and Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme;
   16. creation of the ADF Cadets Council to advise on strategic issues in youth development and benchmark ADF Cadets against other youth organisations. Work on this initiative is planned to commence in 2002-03; and
   17. appointment of an External Overview Team to provide independent advice on the implementation program. Mr John Topley and Air Vice-Marshal Bob Richardson, Chair and Member of the Cadets: The Future review team have been appointed. The team provided its first report in November 2001 to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence.

close