Defence
In December 2007 the Minister for Defence, Joel Fitzgibbon, ordered the Department of Defence to develop a new white paper to guide Australia's defence policy. While the white paper was originally due to be completed in December 2008, it was delayed until 2009 due to the volume of work required. The white paper, entitled Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030, was released on 2 May 2009 and outlines a significant expansion to the Australian Defence Force, intended to maximise the military's capacity to act independently in Australia's region. Implementation of the key recommendations for force upgrades contained within the Whitepaper were delayed or cut by the successor Gillard Labor Government in its 2012 Budget.
Other defence policies enacted by the Rudd Government include canceling the contract to purchase 11 Seasprite helicopters in March 2008, and beginning the process of planning the replacement for the Navy's Collins class submarines.
The Rudd Government altered the number of Australian troops deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq. The 550 combat troops deployed on an overwatch mission in central southern Iraq were withdrawn in mid-June 2008, fulfilling an election promise. This reduced the Australian Defence Force presence in the region to 800-900 support personnel, including 440 either on the ground in Iraq or patrolling the coastline. As of early 2009 around 150 support personnel remained in Iraq. In contrast, the Australian force in Afghanistan was expanded, with Rudd announcing in April 2009 an increase from 1,100 to 1,550 personnel.
Fitzgibbon became the first Rudd Government minister to resign on 4 June 2009. He quit after he admitted that meetings held between his brother, the head of the health fund NIB, and defence officials concerning business opportunities had breached the Ministerial Code of Conduct. John Faulkner was appointed to succeeded the Defence portfolio.
Read more about this topic: Rudd Government
Famous quotes containing the word defence:
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