Problems with removals, Service accommodation and email contact with personnel overseas will all receive attention from the new Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Fran Bailey.

Ms Bailey, who has just completed a whistlestop tour of Defence establishments in all states and territories except Tasmania and the Top End, returned to Canberra with some definite views on matters requiring attention in the near and medium term.

In response to a spate of complaints about shortcomings in Defence Housing Authority removals in the last posting cycle, Ms Bailey said one conclusion she had formed was the necessity to have contracts written for supply of goods and services written in such a way as they could be reviewed during the life of the contract.

She added that she had a reputation for tenacity and was determined to see the arrangements for removals improve before the next major round of postings.

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 last Christmas-New Year holiday period.

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 the Defence Housing Authority'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) has got this system right before they come up to the next big round of postings."

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."

By Antony Underwood