Parl Sec is shocked by
removals fiasco

The new Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Fran Bailey, has strongly criticised DHA and warned she'll 'be watching' their performance following widespread complaints about Christmas removals.

She had strong words for inconvenience suffered by more than a few Service families in removals from one part of Australia to another over the past Christmas-New Year holiday period.

(One expression of 'disappointment' was published as a letter to the editor of the January 31 edition of Army together with an apology from DHA, now responsible for removals.)

Speaking on support for bases with catering and other domestic services, Ms Bailey said "I think it's absolutely critical to have written into the terms of the contract the ability to review terms during the life of the contract."

On the removal difficulties which she believed many had suffered during the posting cycle, she added:

"It was just shocking - ranging from sending a small overnight type of vehicle to move a family of five interstate is just not good enough.

"What Defence families had to go through as a result of DHA's's inability to deliver on those removals was an absolute disgrace.

"Defence did a good job in actually putting personnel and experience into trying to sort it out.

"But that's a contract that I certainly am going to be watching very, very closely.

"I want to be convinced that [DHA] have got their system right before they come up to the next big round of postings.

"I'm known as being pretty tenacious and a very strong advocate and I will use all of my skills to make sure Service people get the best deal that I can get for them."

Member for the Victorian seat of McEwan, Ms Bailey was first elected in 1990 and re-elected in the 1996 and 1998 elections. She replaces Dr Brendan Nelson as Parliamentary Secretary in the Government.

A secondary school teacher by profession, she has been business manager of a family company, retailer, cashmere goat breeder and exporter and a business consultant.

Her responsibilities as the new Parliamentary Secretary include Corporate Services and Infrastructure Group (CSIG), Australian Defence Force Cadets and Defence Aid to the Civil Community (DACC).

By Antony Underwood