In light of claims that former members of the Australian Defense Force (ADF) had been contacted to provide training to China, the country's Defense Minister Richard Marles has directed his department to review the legislation governing retired military personnel.
When the reports first surfaced, Marles said that he had requested his department to look into them immediately.
After learning that numerous former Royal Air Force pilots were receiving handsome salaries as instructors in China, the British Ministry of Defense declared last month that it was taking immediate action to "deter and penalize" U.K. servicemen who work for the People's Liberation Army (PLA).
The former defense minister and current Opposition Leader Peter Dutton last month described the reports as "alarming" and challenged Labor to introduce new laws to prevent the activity. The defense minister told reporters that former Defense personnel had an "enduring obligation" to protect state secrets.
When asked if Australia had confirmed whether any Australians had trained in China, Marles declined to respond. He stressed that if there were any "weaknesses" in the laws that apply to former members of the armed forces, the government would change them.
ADF members are not allowed to conduct military-style training that is associated with a foreign government under present legislation unless Australian authorities have approved the training. With Australia's approval, they are permitted to serve in and work for a foreign military, but they are not permitted to divulge information learned from ADF sources.
When questioned about the investigation during a Senate estimates hearing in Canberra, defense officials rebuffed requests for specific details. The defense has been "made aware through engagement with security agencies that former ADF personnel may have been approached to provide military-related training services" according to Deputy Secretary Celia Perkins, who testified at the hearing. She did not, however, mention which members of that staff had accepted the invitation to conduct training.
She stated at the hearing that Defense was aware of the problem prior to media stories of former pilots being poached, but she did not specify when. Additionally, the deputy secretary acknowledged that the government was still attempting to determine the severity of the issue.
Greg Moriarty, the secretary of defense, stated that the department would tell the police if it discovered any potential legal violations.
"If we become aware of any potential breaches of Australian law by ex-members of the ADF we will be engaging closely with appropriate law enforcement agencies to provide whatever we can in terms of facts and information."
