A retention bonus is being offered to military personnel by Australia despite rising Chinese strategic dangers.
Australia has announced plans to pay military personnel AUD 50,000 (USD 33,165) to encourage them to stay beyond their initial service period, following a review that found the country’s defense posture was not fit for purpose amid growing strategic risks from China. The country’s Defense Minister, Richard Marles, said that the number of defense personnel was 3,400 below the positions funded, and there was a retention problem. The retention bonus will be paid to personnel who stay after completing a mandatory period of service, typically three years. The review recommended that Australia prioritize long-range precision strike capability, domestic production of guided weapons, and diplomacy. The government has since stated it is working through the recommendations of the review with a sense of controlled urgency to reshape the defense force.
