Defence Reserves Support Council (SA)

Adjourned debate on motion of Hon. A.L. McLachlan:

That the council acknowledges the contribution of the Defence Reserves Support Council (SA), Air Force, Army and Navy Reservists and employers of reservists, and in particular:

1. Acknowledges the contribution of Dr Pamela Schulz OAM as the recently retired chair of the council;

2. Congratulates Dr Andrew Cannon AM as the new chair of the council;

3. Recognises the contribution of reservists in war and peace, locally, nationally and internationally, and including the Sampson Flat bushfire; and

4. Appreciates the support of the employers of reservists to facilitate their contribution.

(Continued from 25 February 2015.)

The Hon. T.T. NGO (21:32): I rise to support this motion to acknowledge the contribution of the Defence Reserves Support Council (SA), Air Force, Army and Navy reservists and employers of reservists. I would like to acknowledge Dr Pamela Schulz OAM on a very successful career. Recently retired, she was the first female to be appointed chair of the Defence Reserves Support Council. Dr Schulz spent 20 years of her career in specialist communications management and public relations as a senior practitioner within the South Australian Public Service. She was a very passionate worker and although now semi-retired, she teaches at the University of South Australia.

Dr Schulz conducted a major government campaign from mid-2002 to December 2003 in the lead-up to the South Australian Constitutional Convention to involve people in parliamentary and constitutional reform. She won a gold award from the Public Relations Institute of Australia for this campaign. I would like to pass on my best wishes to her, as well as to Dr Andrew Cannon, the newly elected chair of the Defence Reserves Support Council. Dr Cannon recently served as the deputy chief magistrate. He has a PhD from the University of Wollongong on court policy, is a professor at Flinders Law School and is also an adjunct professor at the Munster University in Germany.

Reservists are an important part of Australia's defence force. They help safeguard the security of our country and can be used for security duties, disaster relief and support with regular military forces. Reservists give their time to provide assistance in the event of natural disasters such as tsunamis, earthquakes, floods, droughts and fires. They also give their assistance with peacekeeping and emergency rescues, both locally and internationally.

Since the Federation of Australia in 1901, reservists have been known by many names, including the Citizens Forces, the Citizen Military Forces and, unofficially, the Australian Military Forces. In 1980 the current name, the Australian Army Reserve, was adopted.

On the outbreak of World War II in 1939, Citizen Military Forces members who wanted to serve overseas in the 2^nd Australian Imperial Force had to resign from the Citizen Military Forces (CMF). Around 200,000 CMF members transferred to the 2^nd Australian Imperial Force during the war, and the CMF was retained for home defence, which included New Guinea and was later to include the South West Pacific area. A few CMF formations served overseas, including the 8^th and 11^th Brigades, which served in the New Guinea and Pacific areas towards the end of the war.

Reservists are a large part of the defence force industry. There are approximately 45,000 Australian reservists both in service and on standby, making up 45 per cent of the total defence force. They volunteer for part-time service in the Navy, Army and Air Force and perform a range of roles. Many are nurses, doctors, firefighters, ambulance officers, IT professionals, plumbers and electricians. These are good people who are committed to the service of our great nation.

Reservists undertake tasks such as maintaining high military discipline amongst Army personnel and carrying out military base activities and internal security. They take care of important depots, prisoner of war camps, and air and sea bases. This means freeing up regular troops for the front.

Reservists also dedicate their own time to travel overseas to offer their help in wars, risking their own lives. Australian Army reservists have served in many theatres of war, and currently serve in the Solomon Islands and East Timor on peacekeeping duties and for humanitarian relief to communities in Pakistan, Thailand, Rwanda and Somalia.

It would be remiss of me not to mention the large number of reservists who travelled to assist with fighting the Sampson Flat bushfire. This began on 2 January 2015 during a day of extreme heat and lasted until 9 January. There were over 350 reservists who devoted their time and commitment to making sure that there was the best possible outcome for those involved. They volunteered to help those who had lost their land, their animals and all their belongings.

Reservists contribute to the community both locally and internationally in so many ways. This contribution would not be possible without the support of their employers, who generously release reservists from their duties to participate in exercises and training. We are most grateful for this support.

I offer my unconditional support for this motion. I would also like to thank the Hon. Andrew McLachlan for bringing this motion to the council.

The Hon. A.L. McLACHLAN (21:39): I thank the Hon. Tung Ngo for his contribution to the debate. Australia's Defence Force continually seeks the skills and experience of reservists to help maintain its capability. Receiving the support of employers means reservists are available to undertake their duties when called for service.

I would like to again acknowledge and thank those employers of reservists who have facilitated their contribution, for without the ongoing support of employers such as these it would not be possible for reservists to successfully synchronise their civilian and service roles. I commend the motion to the council.

Motion carried.