Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee, , 9:00:20 to 9:06:33
Senator Collins questions the Chief of Army on how the sale of the historic Victoria Barracks in Sydney will impact the morale and resilience of personnel.
Topics: ADF, Workplace culture
Speakers: Senator Jessica Collins, Speaker 21, Meghan Quinn, Unknown Speaker, Raff Ciccone, Mark Hammond
chair. Thanks a lot, Senator. Um right, Senator Collins.
>> Thank you very much, Chair. Um if I might just start by tableabling please um a contract that I've just printed off the website. Um secretary, it was a contract that at the last estimates you confirmed for me during the estimates and you might remember that you came back after morning tea. Uh and it was regarding the lease of Defense Plaza Sydney. Uh it will come to you shortly and we can just maybe pick that up again. I just want to clarify a few things. >> Uh and um apologies Admiral um for not calling through you before. Um but if we could please um uh if I could please have the chief of army back again. I would like to talk about the morale of the uh the army.
>> Of course, Senator.
Thank you. Left tenant general. Uh just regarding the sale of Victoria Barrack Sydney. Uh what what do you anticipate to be the impact of on of of morale on morale of the sale of Victoria Barrack
Sydney? Uh, Senator, uh, Lieutenant General Susan Coyle, Chief of Army. Thank you for your question. I mean, I can't speak for every individual in the Australian Army on how they feel about the sale of any of the sites that are in question, including Victoria, Barrack, Sydney. But what I can tell you is that we're a professional fighting force. Our men and women are proud to serve and wherever we place them, we make sure that they are fitted appropriately to be able to deliver on capability, readiness. We look after their welfare of themselves and their families. And that's first and foremost in everything
that we do. And I appreciate hearing from um the admiral this morning about the commander's intent. And part of that is about strengthening, in your words, Admiral, the resilience and well-being of our people and their families to ensure that they are supported, respected, and protected throughout their service and beyond. can you just reflect for me please on uh morale, you know, being part of the um doctrine for the for the army?
>> Yes. So, I mean, morale is a critical capability um for our people and it's on every leader from chief of army down to make sure that our men and women >> um have a positive lived experience in their workplace that they're supported, enabled uh through everything that they do so that whatever role or function they chose to join the Australian Defense Force to do, we provide that environment for them to thrive and to succeed. So morale absolutely underpins every aspect of what we do.
>> And would you regard Victoria Barrack Sydney to be the spiritual spiritual home of the army?
>> There is a very rich history of Victoria Barracks Sydney in the history of the Australian Army and indeed uh Australia's history more flesomely. Uh as you alluded to earlier, I have lived and worked on that barracks as well like many others. Um and there is a connection to the barracks. Absolutely
And have you had uh have you had uh any serving personnel uh give feedback on what will happen or how they're feeling about the loss of Victoria Barracks?
uh Senator uh our people uh in the Australian Defense Force when a decision is made by government for us to uh relocate we enact that direction. That is what we're doing at the moment. It's not it's it's it's not relevant how we feel about it. Um it is something that has been a decision has been made and we're moving forward.
>> Okay. I understand lieutenant general uh and uh you know the defense force don't have a voice in this and I I understand that uh I have had hundreds if not thousands of people reach out to me and there is grief there is anger there is frustration there is a a palpable sense of loss already and Victoria Barracks hasn't even been sold yet uh and so I can only imagine the feedback that the department's getting that the government's getting as well. uh you know I I just given that morale is a capability a defense capability what do you anticipate the defense force is going to do if morale takes a big
Can I can I just point out that the just a reminder of the whole purpose for the defense state review and the uh and the transition in the defense estate is is to be consistent with the national defense strategy which is about building the force that we need to defend Australia which is moving from bases in the south of Australia to uh expand our capabilities in the north. Um this is about building a defense force that's able to meet the needs of the future. Um that does involve changing locations and