The PRESIDENT (Senator the Hon. Sue Lines ) took the chair at 12:00, made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.
Counter-Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2023
The Senate divided. [12:22]
(The President—Senator Lines)
That this bill be now read a third time.
Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Australia's Engagement in the Pacific) Bill 2023
The Senate divided. [12:36]
(The Acting Deputy President—Senator Sterle)
The Senate divided. [12:42]
(The Acting Deputy President—Senator Sterle)
That this bill be now read a third time.
Treasury Laws Amendment (2023 Measures No. 1) Bill 2023
Omit all words after "That", substitute:
"(a) the Senate notes that:
(i) the now Prime Minister said in May 2022: "We've said we have no intention to make any super changes.",
(ii) the now Treasurer said in April 2022: "We've made it very clear Kieran, that we don't have any proposals for tax increases...", and
(iii) since these statements the Prime Minister and the Treasurer have announced a doubling of taxes on superannuation; and
(b) further consideration of the bill be postponed until the Minister representing the Prime Minister tables a letter from the Prime Minister that includes the following elements:
(i) a commitment to dump his new doubling of super taxes,
(ii) a commitment to never tax unrealised capital gains, and
(iii) an apology for breaking his promises to the Australian people".
Franking credits belong to all shareholders, and streaming credits to a particular shareholder class is usually prohibited as it is inequitable and inconsistent with the fundamental principles of our imputation system.
We believe that the changes proposed are well founded based on economic logic, principles of fair and equitable treatment of shareholders, ease and consistency of regulatory implementation, and strongly support the proposed measures. This is good legislation.
Currently, because of the early action by the ATO in issuing an alert and the announcement of the former government's intention to introduce legislation and subsequently the development of legislation, there aren't any cases of this.
Our world is dying. Within the next 10 years the world will pass a dangerous temperature threshold which we cannot come back from—unless drastic action happens. Beyond that threshold, natural disasters will become so extreme that people will not be able to adapt and heat, famines and infection diseases will claim millions of lives.
Australia ranks eighth highest in the world for its emissions per capita and first for coal power emissions per capita. As a relatively wealthy country who is proud of 'punching above its weight', why has more not been done about the climate crisis? There has been decades of climate policy inaction and modest targets thus there is a lot of low hanging fruit for Australia to rachet up its climate ambition. This includes renewable energy, energy efficiency and transport.
A solution for this climate crisis would be investing more funding into climate change action from the government. It needs to be made more of a priority. The funding that has gone into climate change from the government in Australia has been labelled critically insufficient. If Australia truly wants to carry its weight as a developed country, we need to start investing more and setting more ambitious goals to create a better place for the future generations that want to thrive in this beautiful place.
A very important topic to me as a young girl living in Australia is the fact that more and more children everywhere are ending up in the streets and living in unliveable circumstances.
it can happen to anyone but yet no one will give kids a break if they are.
I've heard kids at my school make fun of others because their uniform is ratty or unwashed over a weekend.
But no one ever seems to wonder why it's that way.
Is it just the way things are or is society building these terrible habits of judging before even trying to understand a person's situation.
Neither are good options, and our government is not doing enough, how is a kid meant to go to school get good grades, then come home and have to try and help their parents make ends meet.
All while also being a normal kid.
This situation is lose lose.
Focus on school and lose the house, focus on their houses cleanliness they flunk school and lose the house anyway, work to help keep the house, the house becomes horribly neglected and your school works not done.
Why should any kid live like this?
If a child is in these situations their mental health will rapidly decline and leave them in a terrible condition.
They will be stuck and continue the cycle of poverty they were either born into or thrown into.
Is this something we want for the future of our country?
I am calling on the government to save the youth of Australia and offer some free deep cleanings of unliveable standards of housing, without stigma.
Some extra support for children like tutoring if they can't afford it themselves and Centrelink payments raised.
We need to focus more on Australian citizens and less on tourists who will be here for a week or two.
The Australian Government's funding for nationally significant land transport infrastructure projects will be provided on a 50:50 basis with state and territory delivery partners.
The Government may consider funding a greater share of projects on the National Land Transport Network in jurisdictions with less capacity to raise revenue on a case-by-case basis.
… the inflation challenge is the biggest challenge that we are focusing on in the economy. It's staying higher than we would like for longer than we would like.
That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Foreign Affairs (Senator Wong) and the Minister for Finance (Senator Gallagher) to questions without notice asked by Senators O'Sullivan and McGrath today relating to a recent High Court decision concerning migration matters and to inflation.
… a violent sex predator with a record of attacking elderly women in their own homes so chilling a judge branded him "a danger to the Australian community".
That the Senate take note of the answer given by the Minister for Finance (Senator Gallagher) to a questions without notice I asked today relating to the residential rental market.
That leave of absence be granted to the following senators for personal reasons:
(a) Senator Brown from 14 to 17 November 2023; and
(b) Senator Dodson from 13 to 17 November 2023.
That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969 , the following proposed work be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works for consideration and report as expeditiously as is practicable:
Airservices Australia—PFAS Remediation of Former Fire Training Ground at Launceston Airport, Tasmania.
That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, by no later than midday on Wednesday, 15 November 2023, the 'NZYQ dashboard document' prepared by the Department of Home Affairs, as tendered in the High Court in NZYQ v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs & Anor .
That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for the Environment and Water, by no later than 4 December 2023, any briefing notes, media briefing notes, file notes, emails, written communication and reports held or generated by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water in relation to the Minister's decision to grant approval to the Smoky Creek solar project in Central Queensland.
That there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, by no later than 4 pm on Monday, 27 November 2023, the following, confined to documents and correspondence dated from 16 March 2022 to 1 July 2023:
(a) all correspondence between the Clean Energy Regulator and AnalytEcon, Stephen Beare and/ or Ray Chambers concerning the report published by the Australian National University titled 'The ERF's human-induced regeneration (HIR): What the Beare and Chambers report really found and a critique of its method';
(b) all correspondence between the Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee (ERAC) and AnalytEcon, Stephen Beare and/or Ray Chambers concerning the report published by the Australian National University titled 'The ERF's human-induced regeneration (HIR): What the Beare and Chambers report really found and a critique of its method'; and
(c) all documents prepared by AnalytEcon, Stephen Beare and/or Ray Chambers and received by the Clean Energy Regulator or ERAC concerning the report published by the Australian National University titled 'The ERF's human-induced regeneration (HIR): What the Beare and Chambers report really found and a critique of its method'.
That leave of absence be granted to Senator Thorpe from 17 October to 17 November 2023, for personal reasons.
Pursuant to standing order 75, I give notice that today the United Australia Party propose to move "That, in the opinion of the Senate, the following is a matter of urgency:
Since the 2022 election, the Albanese Labor government has committed billions in spending, which contributes to inflationary pressure and drives up interest rates. Tradies are in short supply, reducing the amount of houses that can be built.
Almost half of Australian mortgage holders are now in mortgage stress. The government must reduce spending and cancel or delay unnecessary and wasteful projects, such as Snowy 2.0, to temper inflation, build more houses and reduce mortgage stress."
That, in the opinion of the Senate, the following is a matter of urgency:
Since the 2022 election, the Albanese Labor government has committed billions in spending, which contributes to inflationary pressure and drives up interest rates. Tradies are in short supply, reducing the amount of houses that can be built.
Almost half of Australian mortgage holders are now in mortgage stress. The government must reduce spending and cancel or delay unnecessary and wasteful projects, such as Snowy 2.0, to temper inflation, build more houses and reduce mortgage stress.
The Senate divided. [16:16]
(The President—Senator Lines)
Pursuant to standing order 75, I propose that the following matter of public importance be submitted to the Senate for discussion:
Australians are being hit with a triple whammy of skyrocketing costs of essentials, falling real wages and now an interest rate hike, which demonstrates a clear failure of the Albanese Government to deliver a plan to ease the cost of living.
Australians are being hit with a triple whammy of skyrocketing costs of essentials, falling real wages and now an interest rate hike. They need a government with a plan to ease the cost of living.
Only 8 per cent of voters expect the economy to improve over the next three months and 50 per cent believe it will get worse …
Anthony Albanese's standing among voters continues to tank amid rising cost-of-living pressures, 13 rate hikes and the voice referendum fallout, with a new poll revealing the Prime Minister's net favourability has plunged by 37 points since May.
Australia dropped further than comparable countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand in the same period. It plummeted 15 places on economic competitiveness, and from 21st to 52nd place on quality of energy infrastructure.
Australian Government response to Recommendations 3 and 4 in the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit Report 497:
Inquiry into Commonwealth Financial Statements 2021-22
October 2023
Response to the Committee's recommendations
The Government notes the Committee's recommendation.
The Government notes the contract termination payment made by the Department of Defence in relation to the Attack Class submarine project was found to be made from a legally valid appropriation source and was correctly accounted for in Defence's financial statements.
The Department of Finance (Finance) will continue to support entities, and Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) in particular, build the technical knowledge and capability of staff in relation to the appropriations framework. For example, during 2022-23, Finance:
• delivered a series of masterclasses, including two on the appropriations framework, to over 1,000 APS staff;
• delivered a targeted series of agency outreach sessions on the appropriations framework to around 1,000 CFOs and APS staff; and
• continued to provide support and advice to Commonwealth entities via quarterly Portfolio Department CFO Forums and quarterly Financial Stewardship Forums (targeted at CFOs and their staff), with a focus on accounting, budgetary, audit, legal, workforce planning and other operational matters of interest to each portfolio.
The Government notes the Committee's recommendation.
As part of the 2023-24 Budget, the Government revised the Explanatory Memoranda supporting the 2023-24 Appropriation Bills (as well as the Explanatory Memoranda supporting Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2022-2023) to clarify the intended use of equity injection funding provided through the even-numbered Appropriation Bills. This practice will continue to be used for future Appropriation Bills
Further opportunities to clarify the use of non-operating funding will be considered as of future economic updates.
Australian Government response to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement Inquiry report:
Public communications campaigns targeting drug and substance abuse
Introduction
The Australian Government welcomes the Final Report of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement Inquiry on Public communications campaigns targeting drug and substance abuse .
The Government would like to thank all those who were involved in the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement (the committee) and those who made written submissions and gave evidence at the public hearings.
The Government acknowledges that illicit drugs continue to have a significant impact on individuals, families and communities across Australia and is committed to preventing the uptake and reducing the harms associated with use. Illicit drugs are also a cause for concern given the involvement of serious and organised crime syndicates producing and trafficking them.
The Government also acknowledges the ongoing need for targeted public communications campaigns in reducing the demand for illicit drugs and encouraging behavioural change. Drug use is often influenced by an individual's beliefs and attitudes and the socio-cultural environment within which they find themselves. By increasing awareness of the harms of drug use and encouraging behaviour change, campaigns may reduce people's motivations towards drug use.
The Government undertakes a range of reduction and prevention activities focusing on harm minimisation of drug use in Australia, through the overarching framework of the National Drug Strategy 2017-2026 (the Strategy). The Strategy includes 'targeted communication strategies' as a method to achieve its overall aim of preventing and minimising drug-related harms, consistent with the priority action of 'preventing uptake, delaying first use and reducing use.'
The committee's Final Report made four recommendations addressing a range of areas across communications, including the efficacy of different approaches to drug-related campaigns, best practice approaches to designing and implementing campaigns and other related matters.
The Government notes the recommendations of the Final Report. This response specifically addresses the recommendations identified in the Final Report. It has been coordinated and prepared by the Department of Health and Aged Care, with input from the Attorney-General's Department and the Department of Home Affairs.
Australian Government Response to Final Report
Recommendation 1
2.90 The committee recommends that the Australian Government implement a new public communications campaign via the National Drugs Campaign that will support law enforcement agencies' efforts to reduce current and future illicit drug demand. The campaign should include the targeted use of social media.
Response:
The Australian Government supports this recommendation.
The Australian Government has a strong history of campaigning against the use of illicit drugs, beginning in 1985 with the 'National Campaign Against Drug Abuse' followed by a series of targeted campaigns in the 1990s under the branding 'The Drug Offensive'. There are clear benefits and economies in developing and implementing these initiatives at the national level, maximising opportunities afforded by the cost-efficiencies and agenda-setting and a consistent approach with national media and stakeholders.
To date, the National Drugs Campaign (NDC) has been based on a harm minimisation approach and plays an important role as an awareness-raising and prevention initiative. There have been many phases of campaign activity addressing different audiences and specific drugs to respond to current and emerging drugs.
Any campaign developed to reduce current and future illicit drug use and demand would likely include the targeted use of social media. This channel was particularly effective in reaching crystal methamphetamine (ice) users during the most recent phase of the NDC under the National Ice Action Strategy.
In line with Australian Government advertising requirements and best practice, final media placement decisions are based on formative research recommendations and expert advice from the master media buying agency, currently Universal McCann.
Recommendation 2
3.75 The committee recommends future Australian Government communications campaigns include the following characteristics:
Response:
The Australian Government supports this recommendation in principle, noting that specific components will be dependent on formative research recommendations and requirements under the Guidelines on Information and Advertising Campaigns by non-corporate Commonwealth entities (the Guidelines).
All Australian Government campaigns are informed by market research that identifies the need for the campaign, the relevant target audiences and the kinds of messaging and channels that would be most appropriate. This typically involves both quantitative and qualitative methodologies.
In accordance with the Guidelines, creative materials undergo concept testing with the target audiences to ensure they are appropriate and likely to meet the campaign's objectives. Campaigns need to ensure they do not unintentionally further marginalise or stigmatise people who are at higher risk of experiencing alcohol, tobacco and other drug related harm.
Under the whole-of-government arrangement for evaluation research, benchmarking is conducted prior to campaign launch, with ongoing tracking research while in market. This assesses the effectiveness of the campaign by monitoring changes in the target audiences' attitudes, knowledge and intended/reported behaviour in relation to the key campaign messages.
Recommendation 3
4.18 The committee recommends the Australian Government establish a formal mechanism to ensure that Commonwealth, State and Territory law enforcement bodies have a strong equal voice in developing policies and strategies to reduce illicit drug demand, including drug treatment services.
Response:
The Australian Government supports this recommendation, noting the importance of cross- agency and cross-jurisdictional collaboration and coordination and the need for a balanced approach between health and law enforcement.
The Australian Government's approach to preventing and reducing harms associated with drug use is set out in the overarching framework of the National Drug Strategy 2017-2026 . The Strategy guides action by health and law enforcement agencies at both the Commonwealth and state and territory government level, in partnership with service providers and the community. The Strategy outlines the Government's commitment to supporting the principle of harm minimisation, through the three pillars of supply, demand and harm reduction and a balanced approach between health and law enforcement. Cooperation between law and enforcement, policing, justice and health sectors is essential in delivering effective responses under these three pillars.
Recommendation 4
4.19 The committee recommends the Australian Government support research, potentially by the Australian Institute of Criminology, into the efficacy of addiction treatment programs in reducing drug-related crime recidivism.
Response:
The Australian Government supports this recommendation. The Australian Institute of Criminology will undertake a cost-benefit analysis of addiction treatment programs to ascertain their efficacy in reducing drug related criminal activity within an Australian context.
That the Senate take note of the document.
There are some studies in the US that relate to Faces of Meth, which the police have copied here. I think the Montana Meth Project is what it is referred to as, and there has been some outcome research. Young people in particular actually showed an increased interest in drugs. It actually advertises the drug. The tendency is to sensationalise and go to the very extreme of what drug use might look like, and young people are like, 'Well that's never going to happen to me,' so they don't connect with that message. But now they know that meth is a thing—that you can take it, that you can get it—and they start to get interested in it. So there is actually research from that Faces of Meth activity that shows that not only does it not reduce harms for users; it increases interest among young people. I think that is a huge problem.
Do you think, at a minimum, there should be a requirement for law enforcement agencies, before they spend significant amounts of public money on communications about drugs, to actually have an evidence base for their communication strategy?
Absolutely. Everybody should be using evidence based approaches. In particular, something so dramatic and expensive that it not only doesn't help but actually does harm is a waste of public money, at the very best.
That Senator Waters be appointed as a member of the Joint Standing Committee on the Parliamentary Library.
National Occupational Respiratory Disease Registry Bill 2023
The Senate divided. [17:08]
(The Acting Deputy President—Senator O'Sullivan)
Treasury Laws Amendment (2023 Measures No. 1) Bill 2023
We won't be doing franking credits … I couldn't be clearer than that.
The Corporate Tax Association suggested that there would be great uncertainty for companies 'who have no history of payment of dividends, such as where a company is recently listed'.
It was called the advance corporate tax. It was abandoned in '99 after 26 years in operation. From the stats that I've read, in 2000, the UK pension funds and insurance companies owned 39 per cent share of total UK stock market. Fast-forward to 2020 and that figure had fallen drastically to just four per cent.
(1) This subsection applies to a distribution (the relevant distribution ) of a kind made by an entity if all of the following conditions are satisfied:
(a) either:
(i) the entity has a practice of making distributions of that kind on a regular basis and the relevant distribution is not made in accordance with that practice; or
(ii) the entity does not have a practice of making distributions of that kind on a regular basis;
New tax policy measures announced since PEFO also increase superannuation fund tax receipts by $1 million in 2022-23 and $467 million over the 4 years to 2025-26. This includes the impact of the Improving the integrity of off-market share buy-backs measure, which is not expected to significantly impact tax receipts in 2022-23, but is expected to increase tax receipts by $400 million over the 4 years to 2025-26.
…the Bill … ensures that arrangements cannot be put in place to release franking credits …
Concerns were raised over retrospectivity, policy objective and potential for the legislation as drafted to capture legitimate commercial practices.
Shareholders … may argue the policy is effectively a tax increase or a winding back of dividend imputation.
Shareholders … may argue the policy is effectively a tax increase or a winding back of dividend imputation.
If implemented, I expect off-market buy-backs will be discontinued and some companies will choose not to take the on-market option, resulting in some instances of less than optimal capital management, reduced profitability, less tax paid and reduced shareholder returns.
Our initial view is that mandatory reporting requirements should be phased in over time—both in terms of entities covered and the reporting that is required.
… we think the standards should be mandatory for large firms … they should be aligned as far as possible with global standards.
Inspector-General of Live Animal Exports Amendment (Animal Welfare) Bill 2023
… that poor conduct and practices are common and accepted within SA Health. I cannot quantify the extent to which this is happening or the cost to the taxpayer. However, I can confidently state that it is not insignificant.
A significant cultural problem is demonstrated in that 51% of SA Health respondents reported encountering bullying and harassment. In addition, 78% of SA Health respondents rated SA Health as vulnerable to bullying and harassment.
The premise underpinning the Transport Workers Union of today is that change involves all of us working together for the same goals. Co-operation and progress underpins everything we believe as a union and everything we fight for.
Yes. Of course, you never knew who it was, but that was par for the course, I suppose. You cope with lots of things yourself, but when it's your children and your family, it's things they shouldn't have to put up with. But the wife was unbelievable with the support through all that she gave.
Of course, the Leader of the Opposition was the Minister for Home Affairs at that time.
… no action was taken by those opposite to remove them from Australia.
… no action was taken by those opposite to remove them from Australia.
You tell me. Why couldn't they be? I'll take that intervention. Maybe you should ask Mr Dutton that—
that, as at 20 May 2023, there was no real prospect or likelihood of the Plaintiff being removed from Australia in the reasonably foreseeable future …
I said yesterday that 80 such people were required to be released; a further person was released yesterday, and I have imposed similarly strict visa conditions on that person.
The social security safety net is also fundamental to our economy. The system allows Australians to get on with their lives in the understanding that support is available if circumstances change. This empowers people and helps build prosperity.
The Government is committed to putting people back at the centre of program design and service delivery. The Department of Social Services and Services Australia are investing in more training for officials and will seek regular feedback on service and program delivery from front-line staff and the community.
Robodebt was the icing on the cake, people were already traumatised by their unemployment, by the poverty, by the political and social discrimination, by being told they were bludgers when they complied with job application requirements and desperately wanted to work but couldn't get another job, by not being able to afford any kind of meaningful life, so when they received a Robodebt notice, what was there still worth living for in this country, with no hope of anything getting better, nobody actually giving a damn? Nothing.
I lost my employment in 2018 and I haven't worked since. I have injuries and chronic medical conditions which occurred after a pedestrian accident. I made numerous attempts to return to work which were unsuccessful. I was initially on the then Newstart, now called Jobseeker, before I could access the Disability Support Pension … I have lodged an NDIS application but have been unsuccessful. On a pension, which is very limited income, I cannot afford such services. For years I went without hot water as it broke down and I could not afford to replace it. The DSP is not enough. Yet Jobseeker is even lower.
Dear Senator Roberts
On the 19th of November 2020 a certain number of SASR soldiers were accused of having a toxic culture with the release of the Brereton report.
This was a sound bite Chief of the Defence Force General Angus Campbell, AO DSC, repeated to the world. He accused Australian special forces non-commissioned officers of attempting to fuse excellence with Ego, Elitism and Entitlement.
The Brereton report, written by General Campbell's subordinate, absolved successive defence force leaders of anything other than 'moral responsibility', including the CDF.
It wasn't written in the report, but the message was loud and clear: there was another "E" in the equation. That of Exemption, Exemption for defence force senior leaders.
The Inspector General Australian Defence Force investigation and media campaign was clearly endorsed by ADF leadership.
In contrast, we have seen the lower ranks of those who served Australia in the Special Operations Task Force/Group in Afghanistan systemically abused, disempowered, marginalised and their valuable service denigrated.
Many of these men and women have since medically discharged due to poor mental health caused not only by aspects of their active service, but more damagingly, their treatment by defence and the media on returning home.
Treatment akin to that of a bygone era.
We have seen ADF leaders recuse themselves from command responsibility and the very laws and standards established after World War 2.
The Yamashita standard saw the Allies demand a Japanese General be hung for crimes committed by his soldiers.
Now, after losing our war, and in the hope of avoiding scrutiny from the International Criminal Court for their failures, it is OUR military leadership who demand their soldiers who fought under their command be punished while they refuse to accept anything other than meaningless 'moral responsibility.
During the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, the combined total cost to the Australian taxpayer was approximately $13.5 billion.
During that same time frame Australian soldiers fought with substandard and rented ISR, Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance equipment.
They had no integrated close air support and borrowed US helicopters.
Both Government and Defence 'procurement specialists' wasted three times the cost of both wars on failed and failing procurements.
Now, we see the failed MRH-90 Taipan helicopter procurement feature in the tragic loss of life, devastating defence families and the serving community.
We have seen veterans abandoned by defence and given no choice but to defend themselves in court without financial, legal, moral, or any other form of support from the same leaders they once served.
This situation demonstrates complete disregard for those who loyally fought the wars of our generation and of the families who supported them.
This ongoing treatment by defence leadership is yet another failure in their duty of care to the people they proclaim to value.
Leadership then took their disregard a step further giving tacit approval to journalists by failing to correct the lies and fabrications they published.
We saw the CDF and his service chiefs demand that senators' questions in relation to the failure of the MRH90 helicopter be considered and respectful due to the families impacted by loss.
This is a stance in complete contradiction to his grandstanding on the release of the Brereton Report, an uncaring act ignorant of the thousands of families impacted, and without consideration of the accuracy of the unproven and untested allegations, or of jurisprudence.
We saw a victim falsely labelled a perpetrator by the cold and dispassionate Royal Australian Airforce chief.
When offered the chance to set right the incorrect and damaging slur, the chief instead doubled down on his untrue statement with impunity.
This further damages all victims in defence, while simultaneously highlighting to Australia the class distinction between an out of touch but untouchable leadership, and those they supposedly lead.
We have seen defence leadership use national security as an excuse to cover their lies, mistruths, and omissions.
And we have seen how the same leaders hide behind the 'in consideration of the impact on families' excuse, selfishly treating grieving families as human shields to protect their reputations.
These families are strong families, they have supported loved ones through their years of service to this country, they don't need protection, they need the truth.
And now, we have seen elected senators voicing the concerns of their constituents and veterans, be labelled as divisive and bullied by the leader of Australia's Military.
If a lower ranked service member had publicly acted in the same way the CDF did at Senate Estimates, they would likely be charged with prejudicial conduct.
If the civilian overseers, the elected senators responsible for scrutinising defence force activities and spending, are not immune from the wrath of our Defence force leaders, is there anyone in Canberra able to hold them to account?
People do not leave bad jobs; they leave bad bosses. Defence has been pushing woke agendas to appease minorities leading to so many poorly conceived and implemented reforms.
Furthermore, due to the defence leadership's damaging use of the media to denigrate its veterans whilst recusing themselves, they have sidelined and denigrated ADF's best assets, its people, and they are leaving in droves.
This devastating recruitment and retention crisis is weakening Australia's defence capability and national security, the very thing our leaders say they are protecting.
This exodus of people from the ADF creates a vacuum that will take years to replace. These men and women are patriots; they are not leaving defence due to the promise of better-paid jobs.
They are leaving because they are not valued and because of the incompetence, failures, double standards, blame-shifting, and lack of support from defence leaders.
What has been the leadership's answer to the current recruitment and retention crisis?
To appoint yet another general to investigate why those who did, and those who normally would serve our great nation, no longer wish to do so.
It's a weak, box-ticking exercise to avoid leadership accountability and fails to resolve the issues.
To Defence leadership, I say, if your medals are so important to you, keep them, and take ours back; there are more pressing items on the agenda.
Over two decades, incompetence in a Defence hierarchy more intent on accolades, awards, and power, has mismanaged Australia's defence force into its weakest ever position, and done so at a time when the world is in its most volatile and dangerous state since World War 2.
These leaders leave us poorly defended, and solely reliant on another nation with a dubious track record for supporting its allies in war.
Those of us who have been to war, who have been 'in action', don't relish another one, especially one fought at home, that require our children to fight.
On releasing the IGADF Brereton report into war crimes allegations, Angus Campbell was reporting as saying, "We are a nation that stands up when something goes wrong and deals with it and that is what I intend to do."
Well, as a concerned special forces veteran and father of Australian sons, this is me standing up, hoping someone in government will deal with this crisis.
Or am I right with the final E? Exemption: Are our Defence Force leaders truly exempt from their failures and above international and domestic laws?
The sorely needed Royal Commission into veteran suicides is a direct reflection of the poor leadership that has mismanaged defence over decades.
A Royal Commission into ADF leadership, specifically the failures in leadership during the Afghanistan war, and subsequent to it, is now imperative to ensure the same failures are not repeated. The Government fails the nation if it does not.
Signed: A concerned father and ADF Veteran.
Name and address supplied.