Defence and Security: 2007-08 Budget initiatives
Recruitment and retention initiatives
The Australian Government continues to expand the size of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to ensure that we develop a highly capable defence force. An additional $2.1 billion has been committed over ten financial years on recruitment and retention initiatives, and this is in addition to the $1 billion in new measures announced in December 2006. These measures will provide greater incentive to all Australians joining the defence force and, therefore, have a positive impact on regional Australia, especially the new Apprenticeship Scheme and the enhancements to the Cadet Scheme.
New Defence Apprenticeship Scheme
In 2007-08, Defence will become more competitive in attracting apprentices and increasing the number of technical training entrants. This will benefit the Australian workforce by increasing employment opportunities and employment rates. The Apprenticeship Scheme will target school leavers under the age of 17, offering them exciting and interesting work in ADF technical trades. Successful recruits would undertake their chosen trade training and would be awarded an ADF technical trade qualification.
Additional logistics sustainment funding
The Australian Government has committed an additional $1.8 billion over ten financial years to enhance the logistics sustainment of the ADF's war-fighting capabilities. Much of this funding will be directed to Australian industry and will be spent in the regional areas where Defence contractors and the Defence Materiel Organisation's System Programme Offices maintain the ADF's weapons platforms.