Defence Minister Peter Dutton says the capacity which Australia’s defence force (ADF) brings to the Five Eyes nations, Quad partners, and to others in our region should send a “tingle down the spine of our adversaries”.
Earlier on Monday Mr Dutton overruled the decision to strip troops of their medals in the aftermath of the Brereton Report. Three thousand Special Forces soldiers were set to have their citations removed over alleged crimes uncovered by the Brereton Report. Minister Dutton told Sky News host Alan Jones he has been “very clear” about his decision to overrule the stripping of the Meritorious Unit Citations. “I want us to concentrate on the 99 per cent of people who received that unit citation, and the amazing work they did,” he said.
“The most important thing now is for us to concentrate on the capacity of these young men and women, who should inspire all Australians.” Mr Dutton said he thinks Australia has “the most able defence force in the world”. “The capacity that they bring to the Five Eyes nations, now to the Quad partners and to others in our region, should really send a tingle down the spine of our adversaries,” he said.
View the Alan Jones’s podcast interview of Peter Dutton here
