Australian Defence Minister Quits

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pepsi

New Member
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,17875494-2,00.html

I hope this isn't considered politics, im looking more for input on what effect it will have on the ADF

So what, if any, effect will this have on the ADF, how much influence does a defence minister have on the equipment purchases and the like in the defence force? Or is his role more of a PR type one?

I'm guessing its more of a PR role considering the two likely replacements are either a Health minister, or a Finance minister.. I always found it strange that they shuffle ministers around like that, but i guess if they aren't the ones making decisions then its no big deal :confused:
 
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cherry

Banned Member
I would have thought that Sen. Hill would have at least wanted to present the new DCP before he went? It is a big piece of work.
 
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Aussie Digger

Guest
cherry said:
I would have thought that Sen. Hill would have at least wanted to present the new DCP before he went? It is a big piece of work.
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He stated in his speech that he has a few "speeches" he still wishes to give before he finishes. This may refer to the DCP, plus he's still booked in for the RAN Seapower conference at the end of January...
 
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Cootamundra

New Member
Current word is Nick Minchin will get the gurnsey, he's been noted as one of the only senators from the LIB/NATs that has never had any sort of issue or negative publicity, apprently he is a good operator but having never had a portfolio (aside from being a senior senator) how would we know? Anyway we should know the new DefMin by the end of next week.
Cheers, Coota
 
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Cootamundra

New Member
Well, well, Brendan Nielson, he might be just the man, spose we won't know until he gets settled. I would think first cab off the rank should be a new white paper, a serious look at these continual poor Auditor General findings and shoring up funding for the AWD, the RAAF fast jet replacement and the Strat Projection ships. We have a large surplus, old Brendon needs to tear into the Finance and Treasury boffins just like he did the student unions and get some more bucks for the ADF!
 
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rossfrb_1

Member
Cootamundra said:
Well, well, Brendan Nielson, he might be just the man, spose we won't know until he gets settled. I would think first cab off the rank should be a new white paper, a serious look at these continual poor Auditor General findings and shoring up funding for the AWD, the RAAF fast jet replacement and the Strat Projection ships. We have a large surplus, old Brendon needs to tear into the Finance and Treasury boffins just like he did the student unions and get some more bucks for the ADF!
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I think he will have to have a chat with our beloved (cough, cough) aspirational federal treasurer regards the surplus, who seems intent on trying to bribe us with minimalist tax cuts.
Nelson seems to be a real hard nut. Hopefully he brings that to his new portfolio in a good way. However, unlike education, I can't see how you'd make defence user pay oriented!

cheers
rb
 
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pnl3410

New Member
we have alot on the table at the moment, and now we have the right man to accomplish it. He is a hard liner, and he gets what he wants, even if he upsets a few people, could be good, could be bad. As long as he has the defence forces best interests at mind, he adds the puch we need at the top level to get the job done.
 
gf0012-aust

gf0012-aust

Grumpy Old Man
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
pnl3410 said:
we have alot on the table at the moment, and now we have the right man to accomplish it. He is a hard liner, and he gets what he wants, even if he upsets a few people, could be good, could be bad. As long as he has the defence forces best interests at mind, he adds the puch we need at the top level to get the job done.
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My ex used to be Nelsons PLO. She says that he's going to have to change his style of speech writing as it won't suit ADF/Govt reporting. He apparently has already recognised this.

What will be interesting will be whether he keeps Hills DLO/PLO.

He's an administrator more than an innovater. All I can say is that I'm glad Abbott didn't get it. The man is a complete tool, and one of the few Federal pollies from either side of the House that I literally despise.
 
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Cootamundra

New Member
gf0012-aust said:
He's an administrator more than an innovater. All I can say is that I'm glad Abbott didn't get it. The man is a complete tool, and one of the few Federal pollies from either side of the House that I literally despise.
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GF maybe an administrator is what we need now. A lot of innovation has happened over the last 5 years or so, so much so that the ADF is starting to get a different look about it. Perhaps Nelson's focus on the little stuff will help with the continued push to right DMO (Lumley seems to be working out well) and to get Defence's accounts sorted out! What we don't need is continued reports from the auditor general telling us how disorganised the ADF is in keeping the books!
 
gf0012-aust

gf0012-aust

Grumpy Old Man
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
Cootamundra said:
GF maybe an administrator is what we need now. A lot of innovation has happened over the last 5 years or so, so much so that the ADF is starting to get a different look about it. Perhaps Nelson's focus on the little stuff will help with the continued push to right DMO (Lumley seems to be working out well) and to get Defence's accounts sorted out! What we don't need is continued reports from the auditor general telling us how disorganised the ADF is in keeping the books!
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agree. the main problem is in the procurement area. I worked project management in a couple of progs when in govt and it used to drive me mad. strangely enough when I was contracting to SMS they used to hire me back out to ADF as a Project Recovery Specialist.

I got paid 5 times as much to give the same advice that no one listened to when I was in Govt. ;)

Project Mgt, from the platform definition to the final delivery and maint stage needs severely attending to.

ADF has been leaking core people for too long.
 
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rossfrb_1

Member
gf0012-aust said:
{snip}
All I can say is that I'm glad Abbott didn't get it. The man is a complete tool, and one of the few Federal pollies from either side of the House that I literally despise.
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A supposed practicing Catholic who doesn't have a problem with telling lies.... go figure.
I wonder if he goes to confession?

cheers
rb
 
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Aussie Digger

Guest
rossfrb_1 said:
A supposed practicing Catholic who doesn't have a problem with telling lies.... go figure.
I wonder if he goes to confession?

cheers
rb
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He could hardly be a politician if he had a problem with lying...
 
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