What responsibility do Australians have to defend Australia (duty to contribute)?
Answer
If needed, Australians may be called to defend their country
Explanation
The responsibility to defend Australia is the duty of Australian citizens to contribute to the protection of the country's people, territory, sovereignty, and democratic institutions. While compulsory military service has not operated in peacetime since 1972, Australians can and do contribute to national defence through the Australian Defence Force (ADF), the ADF Reserve, intelligence and security agencies, civilian defence-related industries, and in times of national emergency through obedience to lawful orders.
The ADF is made up of three services: the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), the Australian Army, and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), with about 60,000 permanent members and about 30,000 active Reserve members across the three services. The ADF is led by the Chief of the Defence Force, who reports to the Minister for Defence and through the Minister to the Cabinet and Parliament. Recruitment is voluntary, and the ADF actively seeks Australian citizens, with permanent residents eligible for some roles after a process of demonstrating commitment to Australia.
Conscription has been used twice in Australian history. During the First World War, two referendums on conscription (in 1916 and 1917) were both defeated by the public. During the Second World War, conscription operated for service in Australian territory and the South West Pacific Area but not elsewhere overseas. The National Service Scheme operated from 1951 to 1959 and again from 1964 to 1972, with conscripts from the second period serving in the Vietnam War. The 1972 abolition of compulsory service has not been reversed.
Defence in modern Australia extends beyond uniform service. Cyber security, intelligence, foreign policy, and industrial capability are all components of national security. The AUKUS partnership with the United Kingdom and the United States, announced in September 2021, is delivering nuclear-powered submarines and other advanced capabilities to the Australian Defence Force from the early 2030s. The Defence Strategic Review of 2023 reshaped defence priorities toward the Indo-Pacific. Civilian Australians contribute to defence through industry, science and engineering, and the Reserve, and the Australia Day and ANZAC Day commemorations recognise the long tradition of Australian military service.
Why this matters for your test
The duty to defend Australia is one of the values listed in the Australian Citizenship Pledge, and recognising the voluntary structure of the ADF plus the wider scope of national security helps new citizens understand what the duty involves in practice.
Source: Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond (2024)
