Richard Marles (Corio, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

We're finding young Australians where they are—advertising on gaming apps and social media. In the last 12 months, there have been 75,000 applications to join the ADF, the largest number in years. While there's still more work to do, we're now processing those applications faster. That has meant that, in the last financial year, more than 7,000 Australians have enlisted in the full-time force, the largest number in 15 years.

Today, the full-time force stands at 61,494. That represents an increase of 2,100 in the last 12 months. What it shows is that, when you value people's service, when you meet young Australians on their own terms and when you improve your processes, young Australians are actually willing to serve our nation by wearing Australia's uniform. Given the world today, that is fundamentally important to our national interest.

See this speech in context