The Minister for Defence has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

With reference to the White Paper and the Strategic Reform Program 'Indicative Workforce Implications - Military Workforce', for the period 1 July to 31 December 2011:

(a) Implementation of the improvements component of the Strategic Reform Program, which includes shared services initiatives and business improvement within Groups and Services, has led to a reduction of 24 military positions, known as Average Funded Strength (AFS), in the period 1 July to 31 December 2011;

(b) Civilianisation is part of the workforce reform element of workforce shared services reform and forms part of Defence's move to establish the best workforce mix of its non-combat-related workforce and to have the military workforce primarily undertake combat or combat related roles. A phased implementation has realised 50 AFS in the period 1 July to 31 December 2011.

(c) With regards to implementing the support productivity improvements component of the Strategic Reform Program, there was no reduction in the number of full-time equivalent personnel employed. The support productivity improvements component of the Strategic Reform Program is a continuous improvement plan scheduled to commence in financial year 2014-15, following on from the completed implementation of the other workforce and shared services components of the Strategic Reform Program.