ADF Converges On Parliament House

PARLSEC 79/2005
Friday, 19 August 2005

ADF Converges On Parliament House

Six members from the Australian Defence Force temporarily hung up their military hats as they converged on Parliament House in Canberra this week to experience a day in the life of a Senator or Member of Parliament.

"Two personnel from the Navy, Army and Air Force, were each attached to a Parliamentarian as part of the ADF Parliamentary Exchange Program," Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Ms Teresa Gambaro said.

"This program allows ADF personnel to gain an insight into both parliamentary and committee processes.

"Parliamentarians and ADF members live and work in very different, but unique environments and this has been a great opportunity to exchange an appreciation and understanding of these differences," Ms Gambaro said.

The ADF personnel will return to the Department with a greater understanding of the mechanics of Government. They were attached to the following representatives:

CMDR Richard Donnelly (Navy)
Senator Nigel Scullion

LCDR Howard McCallum (Navy)
Mr Ken Ticehurst MP

LTCOL Douglas Langrehr (Army)
Senator Richard Colbeck

LTCOL Robert Worswick (Army)
Mr Kim Wilkie MP

WGCDR Chris O'Brien (Air Force)
Ms Sharon Grierson MP

GPCAPT Gavin Turnbull (Air Force)
Ms Kelly Hoare MP

"Several of the Senators and MPs who have nominated to sponsor an ADF member have participated in the ADF Parliamentary Program, where they were attached to an ADF unit to experience the day to day lives and work of our sailors, soldiers and air crews," Ms Gambaro said.

ENDS

Information and imagery of the ADF Exchange Program and ADF Parliamentary Program: http://www.defence.gov.au/adfpp/index.cfm

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