RDFWA Regulars Updates

Regulars Update

Issue 209, July 2006

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The Regulars Update is a monthly newssheet (except that December and January are combined) containing items, which could be of interest to the Service and ex-Service community. This newssheet is distributed to some politicians, some media outlets, some senior Service officers and RDFWA branches. Branches are encouraged to distribute Update further. Input and feedback from all branches will enhance the content and quality of this newssheet. Soon after its distribution Update is posted to our web site at www.rdfwa.org.au. The website contains information about joining RDFWA.

DEFENCE CAPABILITY PLAN 2006-2016

The public version of the Defence Capability Plan (DCP) 2006-16 released recently outlines more than $51 billion of major capital equipment proposals which are planned to be evaluated by Government over the next decade. Additional funding by Government enables the DCP 2006-16 to address the rise in the price of military platforms and technology. The DCP 2006-16 is a major document produced periodically from an ongoing review of defence capability requirements. Australia's National Security - A Defence Update 2005 fed into this review process and largely influenced the DCP 2006-16.

The DCP is based on advising capability effects and outcomes rather than platform replacement. This change from being solution focused to outcome focused is associated with improved capability development processes under the successful Kinnaird reforms. The DCP retains a degree of planning flexibility to manage the risk of unforeseeable and uncontrollable events occurring through changes in the strategic environment, technological development and the ability of defence industry to meet global demand.

Some of the major features of the public version of the DCP are:

Modifying helicopter plans to reduce the number of aircraft types and to create a common joint training and management system. More than $3.7 billion of project funding has been set aside to achieve this aim.
The addition of more than $500 million of new naval surface capability projects to enhance the ANZAC class air search radar system and to develop undersea warfare detection capabilities, and sea mine counter-measures in 2017 to 2019.
A 40 per cent boost in funding for Army networking projects as part of the Hardened and Networked Army initiative. The networking enhancements will support Network Centric Warfare capability and are to be introduced across the majority of Army units. Better understanding of the requirements of the Land 17 phase 1 project means that Army's 105mm and 155mm artillery replacement will be safely deferred for three years whilst Army's Ground Based Air Defence capability will be enhanced from around 2018 to 2020 in a new project valued at more than $750 million.
A $350 to $450 million mid-life upgrade of the Hawk lead-in fighter in 2017 to 2019 and future upgrades for the Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft. Additional provision is made for the F/A-18 Hornet structural refurbishment to ensure sufficient aircraft maintain operational capability in the transition to the New Air Combat Capability.
The DCP retains around $1 billion to refurbish or replace the C-130H Hercules and Caribou aircraft fleets. More detailed analysis of the lifespan of the Orion AP-3C means that the decision to refurbish or replace the ADF's maritime patrol aircraft can be deferred for 2 years. The DCP also sees increased funding of more than $250 million for the Multi-Mission UAV project - AIR 7000 Phase IB.
More than $ 1 billion will be invested in next generation satellite and ground station infrastructure to ensure continuity of service and flexibility through digital content.
A new improved logistics management system project valued at more than $350 million and <>operational in 2012 to 2014.

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT DEFENCE FAMILIES

Defence family support groups across Australia will receive a total of $946,000 in Family Support Funding grants. The Defence Family Support Funding Program grants provide money to develop programs and activities that best suit the needs of ADF families within their local communities.

Fifty-seven Defence family support groups in all states and territories, as well as in Malaysia, will benefit from a total of $946,000 in Defence grants this financial year. The grants assist Defence family support groups to utilise neighbourhood houses and community centres as well as undertake programs and activities such as craft groups, playgroups, as well as assisting children with special needs and producing local newsletters.

NEW ADF APPOINTMENTS TO ENHANCE MILITARY JUSTICE SYSTEM

Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence Bruce Billson recently announced two important military justice appointments, in response to the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee 'Report on The Effectiveness of Australia's Military Justice System', from which the Australian Government agreed to establish a statutorily independent Director of Military Prosecutions (DMP) at brigadier rank.

Lieutenant Colonel Lyn McDade to be appointed as the first Director of Military Prosecutions and will be promoted to the rank of Brigadier and will hold the DMP appointment for a term of five years. She will also transfer from the Army Reserve to full-time service. LTCOL McDade has 23 years' military law experience gained through a mix of full-time and reserve Army service. She also has extensive legal experience in the Northern Territory as a Civil and Police Prosecutor, Deputy Coroner, Relieving Magistrate and at senior levels in Courts Administration. More recently LTCOL McDade has been practising as a Barrister-at-Law.

The second new statutory appointment is the Registrar of Military Justice (RMJ), to be appointed at colonel (equivalent) rank. The RMJ's primary function is to provide case management, trial administration and post-trial administration that are independent of the service chain of command. Lieutenant Colonel Geoff Cameron CSC has been selected by the Minister for Defence to be the first Registrar of Military Justice. He will be promoted to the appointment as a colonel for a term of five years. LTCOL Cameron has served in the Army for nearly 20 years and currently holds the appointments of Director ADF Military Law Centre and Deputy Director Asia Pacific Centre for Military Law. He has also held a number of senior Army legal positions in Command and Divisional Headquarters and as a Junior Counsel to the Defence Force Advocate. Prior to joining the regular Army, LTCOL Cameron was employed in NSW in the Local Courts Administration and as the Registrar of the Supreme Court, District Court and Local Court. He has also sat as a Coroner and was admitted as a Barrister of the Supreme Court of NSW in 1989.

COUNSELLING ACCESS FOR ALL CHILDREN OF VIETNAM VETERANS

Free counselling services to all sons and daughters of Australia's Vietnam veterans regardless of their age will continue. Comprehensive Government-funded counselling services are usually available to sons and daughters of Vietnam veterans who are 35 years or younger through the Vietnam Veterans' Counselling Service. However, in 2001, arrangements were put in place to enable those aged 36 and over to access this service up to 30 June 2006.

Following a review by the Department of Veterans' Affairs of the effectiveness of counselling to those in the older age bracket, the Australian Government has decided that Vietnam veterans' children continue to have access to Government-funded counselling.

Approximately 17 per cent of the sons and daughters who have accessed counselling through WCS are aged 36 years or over.

Mr L.J. Bienkiewicz – 0411 444248
Commodore H J P Adams (Retd) - 02 6292 1452

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