The Albanese Government will invest more than $600 million to extend and expand the Continuation Bonus for permanent members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and increase the ADF's Operational Reserves by an additional 1,000 personnel to ensure we can grow and maintain a highly skilled Defence workforce.
Today's announcement coincides with the release of the 2024 Defence Workforce Plan, which examines planning and development, including the growth and future needs of the integrated workforce as outlined in the National Defence Strategy (NDS) and Integrated Investment Program (IIP).
In an environment with constantly changing strategic circumstances, it is essential Defence has a workforce that is resourced, postured and structured to protect Australia and our national interests.
The 2024 Defence Workforce Plan addresses ADF recruitment and retention, as well as Defence's organisational culture, wellbeing and support to ADF members and their families.
As part of the 2024 Defence Workforce Plan, the Government has committed to:
Extending the Continuation Bonus for eligible, permanent members at the end of their initial service obligation, who have served a minimum of four years
Expanding the Continuation Bonus for a second cohort of eligible, permanent members after a minimum of seven years of service, to encourage continuation of service and career progression to middle ranks in the Defence Force
Increasing the Operational Reserves by an additional 1,000 personnel by 2030, and
Continuing to improve wellbeing and mental health support as well as organisational culture.
Defence's ability to implement the Workforce Plan is underpinned by generational investment in the ADF. The Albanese Government has committed an additional $5.7 billion over the forward estimates and $50.3 billion over the decade to grow the ADF and deliver a more capable, self-reliant Defence Force.
Implementation of the Workforce Plan will deliver growth in our permanent ADF workforce, strengthen the ADF Reserve and will allow the APS workforce to continue to rebalance, including through reduced reliance on the external workforce.
These efforts build upon the work underway in relation to the Government response to the findings of the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, continuing to promote a culture that supports all of Defence's people and their families.
The Workforce Plan also complements ongoing work to uplift the nation's defence industry workforce including through implementation of the Defence Industry Development Strategy.
