I thank the member for her question and acknowledge her service in the Australian Army Reserve. In the last financial year, 8,100 young Australians enlisted in the Australian Defence Force. This now takes the size of the full-time force to 64,000, the largest that it has been in a quarter of a century. I really want to acknowledge the Minister for Defence Personnel because this is a result of intentional government action. Defence Force recruiting is now where young people are—less on TV and more online.

We have shortened the recruiting time, which was at more than 300 days when we came to government. It's now 263—still too high—but in areas of critical need like submariners and engineering, we've got that number right down. We've increased pay right across the force but particularly in areas of skill shortages like cyber and communication. We have a better offer in respect of housing. We have a better offer in respect of education. In short, the Australian Defence Force is now just a better place to work, which is why the separation rate is now down to 7.4 per cent, well below the long-term average.

It's important to also acknowledge the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, which has also played a role here. We still do have a long way to go, but we really are improving defence culture, and it is a much safer culture. It's really pleasing that, in these numbers, there are now more women who are serving in the ADF.

When we came to government, the Defence Force was shrinking. In the last year, alone, of the former coalition government, it shrunk by 1,400. We've achieved this result by actually turning the ship around, because when those opposite were sitting in the chair, they were quite literally asleep at the wheel.