John Cobb (Calare, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That this House:

(1) notes that more than 27,000 Australian boys and girls participate in the Australian Defence Force Cadet program: Army, Air Force and Navy;

(2) expresses its support for the program and the role that it plays in youth development throughout Australia;

(3) encourages young Australians to consider joining their nearest cadet unit; and

(4) extends its appreciation to Australian Defence Force personnel, reservists and volunteers who assist in the delivery of the program.

The Australian Defence Force Cadet program is one of the very best youth programs our country has to offer. It plays a huge role in youth development, giving cadets unique experiences and skills. Importantly, young cadets learn about discipline and the power of self-discipline—and, with self-discipline, you can set goals and you can achieve. Young people often feel overwhelmed by the difficult decisions or tasks they are faced with as they grow up. A cadet is equipped with the tools to remain focussed and attain goals. The Australian Defence Force educates cadets about the function of leadership. They learn about respectful leadership, the role it plays and what a good leader does.

The Defence Force does an outstanding job, and it is important that our young people understand the functions involved. Joining the cadet program gives an insight into the good work our Navy, Army and Air Force personnel do and the sacrifices they make for our country, and they come to realise just how professional and how competent our Defence Force is. I have spent a lot of time, particularly with our Navy and our Army, and one thing that is overwhelming is how competent and professional they are. I have personally benefitted from the programs that the Defence Force run. I went to a boarding school where being in the cadets was compulsory. I was in it for five years, and I did a course and became a cadet underofficer, which no doubt will surprise my good friend here from Townsville.

It is really good to see young people get involved. The self-discipline part is particularly important. To have to learn to stand still when you are on an honour guard takes a lot of doing. But when you are with a heap of people who will give you hell if you do not do it, you do it, and it does teach you self-discipline. The Australian Air Force Cadet aviation centre in Bathurst opened in April last year. It is the first of its kind; a centre of excellence. I am proud to say that over 1,000 cadets, 40 ADF cadets and 367 staff have participated in camps in the Bathurst glider facility from its opening until June this year. This financial year, it is predicted that 1½ thousand cadets will participate in camps. It is phenomenal to see these programs are growing and our young people are interested.

I really encourage all young Australians to think about joining their nearest cadet school. It is a great advantage if they can do it at school but, for obvious reasons in this day and age, that does not happen. I take the opportunity to thank every person involved in making these programs happen, and I would like to express my appreciation—and, I am sure, my government's and the parliament's appreciation—to the ADF personnel, reservists and volunteers who are driving the programs. To those involved in the school programs in my electorate, at Scots and Kinross, I extend my personal thanks, and also thank those who are running the programs generally.

I would just like to say that the program in Dubbo, in Mark Coulton's electorate—just outside my old electorate—being run by the reservists is simply outstanding, as are the ones further east in Calare. Young Australians can gain so much from these programs, and I personally recommend it. I was going to say that I would not be the person I am without it—and that will upset some people. Personally, it is something that I look back on with pride—and, yes, I did learn a lot of self-discipline. My mother and father could not teach it to me—though they tried—but the cadet corps did. There is no-one more professional or competent than the Defence Force, and the more people who spend more time with them, the better.

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