Senator Andrew Bartlett
Monday, April 18, 2005
 
New CDF (number 1)
I was pleased to see that the Government will be appointing Air Marshal Angus Houston as Chief of the Defence Force. I have witnessed him in a number of Senate Committee hearings over the years, as well as in a few other contexts.

He came to wider public notice with his statements on what he told Government Ministers about the false children overboard allegations. He was obviously aware of the political ramifications, but it was clear he was taking a purely apolitical approach and simply telling it as he saw it.

Air Marshal Houston's biggest challenge – apart from having to head a Defence Force on behalf of a Government that has shown it is willing to dishonestly use our troops for their own political gains – will be to avoid repeats of past problems with big spending blowouts and major delays in military equipment. The new Joint Strike Fighter planes already look like they will be vastly more expensive than originally suggested and will almost certainly be delivered late as well.

Apart from being a straight-talker, I believe he is very conscious of the importance of supporting military personnel. Despite my opposition to the Government's decision to invade Iraq, I attended a couple of ceremonies at the time in support of our troops, including a Church service at Duntroon. I was Leader of the Democrats then and in some ways I felt being so strongly and publicly opposed to the war meant it was particularly important for me to attend these types of functions (the ones I got invited to at least). I remember Air-Marshall Houston made a point of thanking me for attending and saying how important it was for the troops to know they had broad support, regardless of the different views people had about the Government's actions.

posted by Andrew Bartlett @ Monday, April 18, 2005 Permalink
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