AUSTRALIA’s defence chiefs have been told to quit their bleeding-heart posturing and to toughen up.
After years of governments pandering to a military obsessed with gender fluidity and political correctness, new Defence Minister Peter Dutton has ordered the armed services to “get back to business”.
- After years of neglect and fiascoes, Australia’s defence house is finally being put in order.
- Military told to focus on primary duty – the exercise of deadly force.
- Minister overturns Defence Chief's call to 'collectively punish' troops.
The constant misuse of the nation’s armed forces by governments and their defence chiefs has almost destroyed on-the-ground morale.
From pursuing personal social agendas, to pushing ideological positions, to suring up marginal electorates, Australia’s armed forces have been abused and weakened.
The previous minister’s wave-through of the military’s most recent “collective punishment” absurdity – in response to alleged wrongdoing by a few – goes to highlight an almost Greens-inspired disdain for Australia’s finest.
DISGRACE
Likewise, the mishandling of the Brereton Inquiry’s report into alleged Australian war crimes has been an international disgrace – opening the way for Chinese officials to defame our soldiers.
After years of neglect and six months of fiascoes, however, the government is finally putting Australia’s defence house in order.
With the appointment of Peter Dutton to head up the Defence portfolio, the protection of Australia and its interests now appears to be front and centre.
Since taking his post last month, after almost four years as Home Affairs Minister, Mr Dutton’s first announcement to servicemen and women was to say that he “had their backs”.
In doing so, the former Queensland cop asked them to re-prioritise their primary duty – the exercise of deadly force in the protection of the nation and its interests.
“There are priorities that we will focus on which will make it very clear to our troops that the government has their backs,” Mr Dutton said.
“My message is that we are getting back to business. That business is more important than ever, and that business is to keep Australia safe and secure,” he said.
REBUILT
“I think morale has been down and I think there is good reason now for it to be rebuilt.
“And the commitment that the government has given to the Australian Defence Force, not only financially but morally, is very important.”
While Mr Dutton’s words have been encouraging, his actions have been louder.
This week he overruled Defence Chief Angus Campbell’s decision to strip medals from more than 3000 special forces as collective punishment for the alleged misconduct of a few mentioned in the Brereton Inquiry.
Mr Dutton said the vast majority of ADF personnel had served with distinction.
“We honour these young men and women and they will be wearing their unit citation medals with pride,” he said.
“Almost 40,000 honoured our country with their service in Afghanistan and Iraq and I couldn’t be more proud of their sacrifice.
“We honour them and their loved ones this ANZAC Day.”
Mr Dutton has won support from The Australian newspaper’s Foreign Editor Greg Sheridan.
“Our military is not required to be the wokest force on the planet,” he wrote. “But they are required to master the application of deadly force to protect the peace.
“This is the clearest statement of purpose a defence minister has made in a long time.” PC
Peter Dutton should be the PM.
Totally agree with his comments.
Also the Liberals need to keep right away from the Green Agenda and get rid of the lefties out of the Party.
At last we have someone to bring the top brass back to sanity. The way the troops are treated is a disgrace.
Salvation at last, and hopefully in time.
Well done to Peter Dutton, at last we have the right person in the right position at the the right time.
Peter Dutton pulls no punches. We can now look forward to a defence force with real ability to defend our country, one we can be proud of. Wokeness interferes with the ADF’s core raison d’etre. Just let them do their job and keep us safe!
I am delighted to read this. The previous two decades of political oversight of the military have been a national disgrace. I am concerned however that this oversight has left an entrenched body of politicised public servants in the Department of Defence and, indeed, a politicised canker in the ranks of the services themselves. These cohorts have much influence. Minister Dutton will need the constant support of those who believe in a rational, professional and apolitical defence force.