Caleb
Fotheringham, RNZ Pacific
Journalist
Australia’s plan to recruit from Papua New
Guinea for its Defence Force raises “major ethical
concerns”, according to the Australia Defence Association,
while another expert thinks it is broadly a good
idea.
The two nations are set to begin negotiating a
new defence treaty that is expected to see Papua New
Guineans join the Australian Defence Force
(ADF).
Australia Defence Association executive
director Neil James believes “it’s an idiot idea” if there
is no pathway to citizenship for Papua New Guineans who
serve in the ADF
“You can’t expect other people to
defend your country if you’re not willing to do it and until
this scheme actually addresses this in any detail, we’re not
going to know whether it’s an idiot idea or it’s something
that might be workable in the long run.”
However, an
expert associate at the Australian National University’s
National Security College, Jennifer Parker, is of the view
that it was a good idea.
“Australia having a closer
relationship with Papua New Guinea through that cross
pollination of people going and working in each other’s
defence forces, that’s incredibly positive.”
Parker
said recruiting from the Pacific has been an ongoing
conversation, but the exact nature of what the recruitment
might look like is unknown, including whether there is a
pathway to citizenship or if there would be a separate PNG
unit within the ADF.
Advertisement – scroll to continue reading
When asked whether it was ethical
for people from PNG to fight Australia’s wars, Parker said
that would be an extreme scenario.
“We’re not talking
about conscripting people from other countries or anything
like that. We’re talking about offering the opportunity for
people, if they choose to join,” she said.
“There are
many defence forces around the world where people choose,
people who are born in other countries, choose to
join.”
However, James disagrees.
“Whether
they’re volunteers or whether they’re conscripted, you’re
still expecting foreigners to defend your society and with
no link to that society.”
Both Parker and James
brought up concerns surrounding brain drain.
James
said in Timor-Leste, in the early 2000s, many New Zealanders
in the army infantry who were serving alongside Australia
joined the Australian Army, attracted by the higher pay,
which was not in the interest of New Zealand or Australia in
the long run.
“You’ve got to be real careful that you
don’t ruin the Papua New Guinea Defence Force by making it
too easy for Papua New Guineans to serve in the Australian
Defence Force.”
Parker said the policy needed to be
crafted very clearly in conjunction with Papua New Guinea to
make sure it strengthened the two nations relationship, not
undermine it.
Australia aims to grow the number of ADF
uniformed personnel to 80,000 by 2040. However, it is not on
track to meet that target.
Parker said she did not
think Australia was trying to fill the
shortfall.
“There are a couple of challenges in the
recruitment issues for the Australian Defence
Force.
“But I don’t think the scoping of recruiting
people from Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands, if it
indeed goes ahead, is about addressing recruitment for the
Australian Defence Force.
“I think it’s about
increasing closer security ties between Papua New Guinea,
the Pacific Islands, and
Australia.”
New Zealand’s public broadcaster, providing comprehensive NZ news and current affairs, specialist audio features and documentaries.
Radio New Zealand is a Crown entity established under the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. Radio New Zealand News are vital elements in our programming, providing impartial news and information to New Zealanders every day. Radio New Zealand (RNZ) provides listeners with exciting and independent radio programmes in accordance with the Radio New Zealand Charter.
