Senator Jacqui Lambie has urged the Albanese government to increase defence spending, following warnings that Australia's military capability will not improve for at least a decade. The government has announced plans to recruit foreign nationals and permanent residents to address a workforce crisis in the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Defence Personnel Minister Matt Keogh confirmed the recruitment expansion, which will include recruits from the UK, Canada, the US, and New Zealand. Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Birmingham and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton have criticized the government's handling of defence issues, with Dutton labeling the recruitment policy as 'half-baked.'
BREAKING: Short on troops, Australia ๐ฆ๐บ opens military to non-citizens All going according to plan. https://t.co/MBRnENH7Uc
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has taken aim at Laborโs โhalf-bakedโ Australian Defence Force recruitment policy which would see foreign citizens join the army. https://t.co/VkuGR5w1FE
Aus to allow defence recruits from UK, Canada, US, NZ https://t.co/1V3H3TC8dT
Australia will soon be defended by foreign nationals, as part of a radical plan to solve the military's recruitment problem. But the Government's had to clarify which countries will qualify to plug the troop short-fall. @AndrewProbyn #9News READ MORE: https://t.co/w5ea0VLlck https://t.co/ew1yQh8gxF
Poaching from the Five Eyes! "The Australian Defence Force (ADF) will allow recruits from foreign countries, including the UK, to help grow its ranks." https://t.co/NLNKi9h4hT
Australia to expand military recruitment to permanent residents https://t.co/8Y9WuC4zvM
Australian army to allow recruits from four nations https://t.co/pJvz6V4Oji
Defence Personnel Minister Matt Keogh has weighed in on speculation he could be in the running to take over Andrew Gileโs job as Immigration Minister. https://t.co/Uaahe5n4xW
Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Birmingham has criticised the Albanese governmentโs โfailingsโ on Defence after it was announced Australia would look overseas to bolster its military ranks. https://t.co/aMM6a24Cvd
Defence Personnel Minister Matt Keogh says the government is extending their recruitment for the ADF to foreign nationals in a bid to "grow the force." https://t.co/HMpYpasCRa
๐ฆ๐บ An Army Of Foreigners โซADF to recruit foreign nationals to tackle workforce crisis โซMark Dunn #frontpagestoday #Australia @couriermail ๐ฆ๐บ https://t.co/16IpBNjuFE
"As a nation, we need to accept the need for higher defence spending. Hoping that conflict won't come is not a viable strategy. #9News DETAILS: https://t.co/ftC0sDBfQl
Senator Jacqui Lambie has called on the Albanese government to โstart doubling up your defence spendingโ following warnings Australiaโs military capability wonโt improve for at least a decade. https://t.co/tS81i00kB6