Peter Dutton failed as health minister, was typecast as home affairs minister, but in the defence portfolio he is already making his mark. Defence is similar to Mr Dutton’s former portfolio of home affairs, in terms of protecting Australia and her international trade from external threats. But it is the macro to the home affairs micro. Defence policy and administration, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, is about geopolitics;..
military and political strategy; getting the balance of force right to deter and repel threats; and ensuring those who put their lives on the line for Queen and country are treated with respect, and that the vapid Americanism ‘thank you for your service’ actually means something.
To be successful, however, a defence minister needs to be personally tough enough to win the respect of the serving officers and other ranks who make up the Australian Defence Force. He needs to cut through the mountain of red tape that is the Russell Hill defence headquarters in Canberra....MORE
