Darren Chester (Gippsland, National Party, Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

In joining the motion, I want to not only commend the member for Lyne for presenting it to the Federation Chamber today but also congratulate the member for Bullwinkel not only on her election but on her fine tribute to Nurse Vivian Bullwinkel and the extraordinary story of courage and heroism which occurred on Bangka Island.

In that vein, I think it's important that we not only recognise all Australian servicewomen who are serving today and thank them for their service but also thank our veterans for their service to our nation over the past 100 years. It's an incredible contribution to the safety and security of Australia that has been made by women in uniform, and it's something that I think is only appropriate that the House recognises today.

Today women make up about 20 per cent of the Australian Defence Force workforce. In the Navy, it's about 24 per cent; Air Force, 25 per cent; and Army, 15 per cent. I know the service chiefs across all three are working to increase the level of female representation in each of our forces. It's important to note that, since 1899, women have served in the Australian armed forces, but it's only since 2013, when camp combat roles opened up to women—and by 2016 all roles, including special forces entry, were open to women—that they were fully able to participate in any role in the Australian Defence Force. That has been an extraordinary capability boost for our service personnel.

I've been very fortunate in this place to participate in the Australian Defence Force Parliamentary Program and also serve as the Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel. In that time, I have been exposed to a number of women in leadership roles who have impressed me enormously. I can recall being on a naval patrol boat off the coast of Darwin. The commander of the ship was a female officer, and the way she managed her crew was something quite extraordinary and impressed me enormously.

I remember another occasion where I was on the deck of one of the Australian naval vessels, and there was a young lady there who would have been no more than 25 or 26. It looked like she could have been your typical hairdresser standing beside this burly guy of 120-odd kilos with a big, bushy beard. The reason she looked like she could have been your typical hairdresser was that that's what she was before she joined the Navy. This young lady, at 25 or 26, was actually the officer in charge, teaching the big, burly 120-kilo fellow how to do that job. It just goes to demonstrate that you should never assume anything, when it comes to Australian Defence Force, about who's in charge and who's actually giving the instructions.

I have met women in leadership roles in our military who have been some of the finest Australians that I've ever had the pleasure of spending time with. I think about Lieutenant General Natasha Fox. Natasha is serving today. She is the first female deputy chief of Army and the inaugural chief of personnel. She has been extraordinary in her efforts to improve the transition for our Australian Defence Force personnel.

I think about Air Vice Marshal Tracy Smart, a former surgeon general of the ADF. Tracy has retired, but she continues to work tirelessly to support veterans and the wellbeing of their families. I think about the aide-de-camps I had the great fortune of working with: Fiona, Lisa and Libby. Their organisational skills were extraordinary—even trying to keep a recalcitrant National Party minister on time to get to the right place at the right time!

The one who has stuck in my mind most recently is Major General Liz Cosson. Liz was the first female major general of the Army, and, not satisfied with that extraordinary achievement, when she retired from uniform she went on to become the first secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs. During my time as Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Liz was an incredibly important ally in terms of working to improve outcomes for veterans and their families. Her lived experience, I think, made her perhaps more empathetic than other secretaries in the Public Service may have been. Without her support, we would not have been able to bring in the reforms that we were able to bring in, and under her guidance and her leadership I am confident that we set in train some reforms which will continue to deliver long-term benefits for veterans and their families.

I want to finish where I started, in commending the member for Lyne for bringing this motion to the chamber to say, 'Thank you for your service,' to all Australian Defence Force personnel and our veteran community and, finally, to recognise the incredible role that women have played and continue to play in the Australian Defence Force. I wish them safety, security and good fortune as they continue to keep us safe. Thank you for your service. Lest we forget.

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