Australia may use defence exchanges with Pacific countries to tackle ADF recruitment crisis

Government says its $50,000 retention bonus is just ‘a start’ in addressing workforce problems raised by defence review

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The Australian government wants to broaden defence exchanges with Pacific countries amid wider fears the Australian defence force will struggle to meet recruitment targets over the coming decades.

Figures show the ADF’s permanent workforce strength increased from about 56,100 in 2012-13 to 59,300 in 2021-22 – meaning growth on average of just 300 a year during the life of the Coalition government.

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