Comment- Defence Delays

Clipping Defence’s Wings

To avoid the inevitable accusation that I am again having a go at the RAAF or Defence, or whatever, let me please at the outset that this comment is based on ignorance of what might be happening at Russell Hill. Nor am I writing on behalf of some disgruntled junior officer who has leaked classified documents – otherwise I might end up in court. If anything, I am writing as a slightly bemused member of the Australian public who is totally unconvinced by the vague explanations handed out by the Government machine.

If the hierarchy does not like being attacked by the “ignorant” (their term), they have the solution in their own hands – tell us peasants more. However, that is an aside and perhaps we can argue that if we are so very wrong, the experts will very quickly point out where and why.

Over recent months, Defence has done a lot of work towards acquiring new or replacement capabilities. That much is Certain. What does appear to the observer is that the work seems to go only so far and then stop, leaving the Defence Force with only a limited and, often, declining capability.

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