Brendan Smith: Urges Action on Defence Forces' Pay and Governance
Brendan Smith addressed a presentation from Mr Geinan and colleagues on issues facing the Department of Defence Forces, stressing respect for service and the need for proper recognition. He said concerns included pay, welfare and governance, and pledged the committee would pursue these matters with the minister and in further meetings.
Acknowledgement of presentation
Brendan Smith thanked Mr Geinan and his colleagues Amy, Mark, Martin and Donna for their presentation and emphasised that members of the Defence Forces deserve respect and proper recognition for their service and the dangers they face daily.
Monetary and governance concerns
He said it was clear the issues were not just financial - monetary matters need to be addressed but there are also governance issues, relationships with the Department and the way the Department and the Defence Forces do their business.
Committee follow-up and next steps
Brendan Smith assured the committee will continue to pursue these concerns, raise them in correspondence with the minister, meet the minister in future and invite the presenters and RACO to further discussions in the autumn, following a suggestion from Senator Terry Layden.
Local service and recognition
Drawing on his constituency's long tradition of Defence Forces service, he underlined the ongoing commitment of individuals and families since the foundation of the state and the need to ensure that service is properly recognised.
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I want to thank Mr Geinan and his colleagues Amy, Mark, Martin and Donna for their presentation here this morning and I think it's very clear from the contribution of all my colleagues that these are very serious issues. I think it's a matter of respect for the members of the Department of Defence Forces and at all meetings where we discuss defence issues here we always make sure that we pay true tribute to the great work of the service that your members give to our state and in returning to the state should be properly recognising that work, that commitment and the dangers that your members face on a daily basis. It's clear from your presentation that it's not just about money, there are monetary issues that need to be addressed but there are also governance issues, relationships with the Department and the way the Department and the Defence Forces do their business as well. I can assure you that these are issues as you refer to in your opening contribution that we will keep pursuing as a committee, we will be having discussions with the Minister in the future as well and we will raise all of these issues both in correspondence to the Minister in advance of meeting with the Minister as well and as Senator Terry Layden suggested we will be having yourselves and RACO, we will give you an opportunity in the autumn to have further discussions on these issues because I think we want to send a clear message that the welfare and the pay and conditions of the members of the Department of Defence Forces are of concern to the committee and to the Aeropolis and that's the view shared right across all members here and the that's that's that's that's an issue those are issues that we will pursue because I come from an area that is a proud and long tradition in having very substantial numbers implied in the Department of Defence Forces since the foundation of the state and I know of the commitment of individuals of families going back many generations where they've where they continue to give great service to our country. We want to ensure that that is recognised. So again a sincere thanks for your presentation here this morning. The Thank you.
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