Fed: New scheme to boost reservist numbers

AAP General News (Australia)
08-25-2000
Fed: New scheme to boost reservist numbers

CANBERRA, Aug 25 AAP - Defence chiefs are hoping for 4,000 new reservists under a scheme
that will pay employers for letting their workers serve the nation.

From next week employers will be paid average adult full-time weekly earnings for each
week their reservist staff are absent after two weeks.

Already $20 million has been budgeted for the scheme that is aimed at beefing up the
nation's lagging reservist forces.

Australian Defence Force (ADF) chief Admiral Chris Barrie hopes to get up to 4,000
new recruits which would take total forces to 25,000.

He said reserve numbers could eventually reach 50,000, matching full-time personnel.

He called on employers to back the scheme.

The Australian Defence Association backed the plan, saying it would better integrate
reserves into the regular fighting forces while lifting the nation's defence capability.

Association executive director Michael O'Connor said the government and defence department
now had to increase training opportunities to help retain reservists.

Assistant Defence Minister Bruce Scott said employers had shown a reluctance to release
staff for training for operations such as Bougainville and East Timor.

He said the scheme now gave them a financial incentive which enabled them to run their
business while helping the nation.

Opposition defence personnel spokesman Laurie Ferguson said the government was to blame
for the current shortfall in reserve numbers and the latest measure did not go far enough.

AAP sw/gmw/

KEYWORD: RESERVES DAYLEAD

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