Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Defence. Library research on the number of starred officers in the Australian Defence Force—that is, generals, admirals, air marshals and the like—demonstrates that the Australian Defence Force has been growing its senior command by an enormous amount over the last few decades. In the last decade, there has been an increase in starred officers despite a reduction in ships, aircraft and boots on the ground. Since 1983, the ratio of starred officers to enlisted personnel has increased by about eight times. Forty years ago, there was one general for every 1,800-odd serving people. Now there is one for every 250. Minister, what benefit does the Australian Defence Force get from having so many senior officers?