Longstanding defence policy states that only Australian citizens can serve in the military,with exemptions granted only in “very rare and exceptional circumstances”.
Defence Personnel Minister Matt Keogh said on Friday that “we are certainly looking at all options that we need to look at in terms of how we can grow our Defence Force and that includes looking at how we might be able to grow it from friendly forces”.
Keogh,who is serving as acting defence minister,told ABC radio the government was looking at “opportunities for people to come to Australia,or who are already in Australia,from other countries to join our Defence Force”.
Asked which foreign nationals could be allowed to serve in the Australian military,Keogh said the government was “looking at the Pacific,but we’re also looking more broadly than that because we recognise the importance of growing our Defence Force”.
The idea is a sensitive one,with some senior military figures opposed to foreigners serving in the Defence Force because they believe there should be a direct link between citizenship and military service.
This masthead reported last year that the federal opposition and leading military experts werecalling on the Albanese government to consider allowing foreigners to fight under the Australian flag to boost the number of uniformed personnel.