General Angus J Campbell AO DSC, Chief of the Defence Force: Good morning and thank you for coming today on this fine, cool Canberra morning.
On behalf of all those gathered I too acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land upon which we meet – the Ngunnawal people – and pay my respects to their elders, past, present and emerging. And I also acknowledge and thank those Indigenous Australians who have, or are now, serving in our Australian Defence Force. I particularly acknowledge Auntie Serena, Auntie Violet, and Auntie Lorraine here today. All of whom have made a significant contribution to Defence’s reconciliation journey.
In this NAIDOC week I congratulate and thank the Navy’s Bungaree indigenous dance group for their performance. I’m very proud that today 3.9% of the ADF are of indigenous heritage, and in keeping with the NAIDOC theme of Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud, this number continues to grow.
As we continue to increase indigenous representation in the ADF some people ask me why.
The ADF has the best training system in the nation; I can make a sailor, soldier or aviator out of any willing volunteer.
But we owe more to a group of Australians who were not only the first Australians but who also so willingly served in defence of country when their country did not even recognise them as citizens.
That is a debt to be paid forward and the ADF pays its debts.
I have been extraordinarily fortunate and privileged to serve as the Chief of the Defence Force over these past six years.
It has been demanding, challenging and exhausting.
It has also been endlessly interesting, engaging and inspiring.
Our Defence mission, to defend Australia and its national interests, requires great commitment, and every day that is what I see across the Force and throughout the Defence Enterprise.
People committed, together, to a purpose greater than themselves.
What a pleasure it has been to be a part of such an outstanding team dedicated to such an important, indeed noble, purpose.
Today our nation grapples with big, serious, complex issues that defy simple solutions. The ADF is but one team within many, that strive together to realise our nation’s security and prosperity.
After 39 years of military service and 4 years of public service, my part in this work and in this role, concludes today but the effort of the team continues.
We live in very interesting times indeed; embrace it as an opportunity.
Do not doubt the contribution you make or the consequential role Australia can play in creating our shared future; at home, in the Indo-Pacific and globally.
A big-thinking, engaged and generous Australia has always been a positive influence in our troubled world, and Australian statecraft has never been more necessary nor more welcome.
I have had the privilege to serve three Prime Ministers and five Defence Ministers as CDF.
To each, and to their colleagues on the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Security Committee, thank you for your service to our nation, your patient willingness to listen to military advice, and your decisiveness to act, always in the national interest.
To my colleagues from the Secretaries Committee on ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Security, many of whom honour me by their presence here this morning, thank you for the healthy contest of ideas and your unfailing commitment to our people and to Australia.
We are blessed to have one of the world’s truly great public services in the Australian Public Service and the government of the day is equally blessed to receive your frank and fearless public policy advice, even when they don’t enjoy it.
Throughout my career, I have served with some extremely capable, inspiring and utterly committed officers, NCOs, sailors, soldiers and aviators.
It hasn’t been the rank that distinguished the person, but rather it was their commitment to both our people and our mission that made the impact. And from them I have learnt much.
In recent years, I have benefited from and valued the insight, contribution and support of some extraordinary senior leaders.
My fellow Chiefs, my Senior Enlisted Adviser, our field commanders and my office staff have all lead, enabled and delivered, together, for Australia.
I said I was fortunate and privileged to be the CDF, in large part because of the quality, capacity and loyalty of these people, to whom I owe a great debt of thanks.
Whether leading a Navy, Army or Air Force, designing the future force, creating and building Space, Cyber and Logistic forces, establishing a Guided Weapons Enterprise, launching the Nuclear Powered Submarine program, fusing a single integrated personnel system, analysing the world around us, commanding our forces in harm’s way, and always, engaging with our people across the country or the world, they have been and are outstanding.
And I have been humbled to be their leader.
Supporting the efforts of our ADF team is of course the unsung Defence Deputy Secretaries who drive and enable the wider Defence Enterprise that powers, provisions and sustains the ADF. Thank you for your vital contribution to Australia’s defence and security.
Principal among them has been the mighty efforts of Secretary Greg Moriarty, AO. My colleague, diarchic partner, friend, and head of the Department of Defence now going on seven years. His leadership, commitment, bureaucratic skill, steely drive and good humour have been a God send in challenging times.
He is, in the best sense, the modern Defence mandarin for our times, in whose good company I have been fortunate to serve.
Internationally, I have also greatly benefited from our Australian Defence Attachés and Advisers deployed throughout the world in key diplomatic Posts of strategic importance to Australia.
And similarly, I have appreciated the extensive International Attaché and Adviser Corps here in Canberra helping me to connect with our Allies, Partners and Friends globally.
Australia has never fought alone and all the serious security problems are problems we share, as too are the solutions, which we must find in partnership with our region and the wider world.
In this, my international Chiefs of Defence colleagues have been an invaluable source of insight, advice and support.
At home, my beloved Stephanie and our children have had to put up with a lot since she was conscripted into service more than 30 years ago.
It has been an unexpected journey and I’m forever grateful that you have travelled it with me. Thank you.
They are but one of the tens of thousands of Australian families that accept the sacrifices and burdens of service to support and care for a loved one in uniform, and often that care extends beyond uniform.
Their commitment is essential to ADF capability and I am extremely grateful to our families for the weight they accept.
Assisting their efforts I have come to appreciate with thanks the legion of support offered by our Ex Service Organisations and veterans charities.
But I do particularly wish to mention the work of the Defence Member and Family Support Branch of the Department of Defence, the advocacy of Defence Families Australia, the love and care offered by the Defence Special Needs Support Group, and in a more general sense the work of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Australia, the ADF and I recognise that a commitment to service is a commitment to the families that enable and sustain that service.
My heartfelt thanks to our families for your extraordinary contribution to our national security.
Admiral David Johnston, AC, will very shortly take up the reigns of office as Chief of the Defence Force.
He is the best of us and will meet the challenges and demands of this office with wisdom and calm determination.
The development of the ADF as a focused and integrated Force will benefit from his considerable talent and experience in senior appointments, first as our Chief of Joint Operations and most recently as my deputy and Vice Chief of the Defence Force.
His earlier grounding as one of our most highly regarded and effective at-sea commanders, with a reputation for humility, care for his people and tactical innovation will stand him in good stead; both to steer the course and feel the deck plates.
To you and Belinda, I wish every success and thank you for your continuing service to our nation.
Finally, and with great thanks, I wish to acknowledge the men and women of all ranks, musters and services who wear our nation’s uniform.
You each volunteered to forego the comforts and freedom of a civilian life, and commit to a purpose greater and more inspiring.
Whether for a year or half a century, your service is deeply appreciated and of consequence to the future security, wellbeing and prosperity of Australia and its people.
The generation now entering the ADF is the best educated, connected, aware and engaged in our history.
They give me great confidence in the continuing development and performance of the Australian Defence Force; to assist, to stabilise, to defend, to deter, and if necessary, to fight and win; always at the direction of the government of the day.
Of course, like all human endeavours, the ADF is flawed and imperfect.
But we are prepared to see ourselves. To learn and to improve. Indeed if nothing else I would claim the ADF is a truly learning organisation. Our journey is the product of many, striving together.
Today’s ADF is a far better and more capable Force than the one I joined so many years ago because of the efforts of so many, including my father, BRIG (Retd) Wal Campbell MC who is here today, and my brothers, with whom it has been a pleasure to serve.
As for any departing Chief, I leave knowing there is much more to do, but that is now for others.
Admiral Johnston and his senior leaders will continue the journey; to listen, learn and lead our Force to be the best it can be; through Service to our nation, Courage in meeting the challenges of each day, Respect to all, Integrity in behaviour and Excellence in the profession of arms.
Together we serve. Together we are stronger. And together we will prevail.
My best wishes to all.
My duty done.
Thank you, Farewell, and Godspeed.
