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| Retired general quits as adviser to defence minister, hinting at differences | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A retired army general has pulled the plug on advising the defence minister, David Johnston, on the new defence white paper after only three weeks. | A retired army general has pulled the plug on advising the defence minister, David Johnston, on the new defence white paper after only three weeks. |
| Major General Jim Molan hinted on Sunday that Johnston was the reason for his sudden resignation. | Major General Jim Molan hinted on Sunday that Johnston was the reason for his sudden resignation. |
| He had accepted a request from the minister to act as an adviser for the major review into long-term defence policy and funding which will be released next year. | He had accepted a request from the minister to act as an adviser for the major review into long-term defence policy and funding which will be released next year. |
| “It took me three ... weeks unfortunately, to realise that this was not feasible,” he told Network Ten. | “It took me three ... weeks unfortunately, to realise that this was not feasible,” he told Network Ten. |
| The reason for his resignation had nothing to do with the professionalism of the Department of Defence, Australian Defence Force, Defence Force chief or department secretary. | The reason for his resignation had nothing to do with the professionalism of the Department of Defence, Australian Defence Force, Defence Force chief or department secretary. |
| Asked if his criticism was levelled at Johnston, he replied: “Well that’s a conclusion you can come to and that’s something that I would discuss in private with others”. | Asked if his criticism was levelled at Johnston, he replied: “Well that’s a conclusion you can come to and that’s something that I would discuss in private with others”. |
| Molan helped the Coalition design the asylum seeker boat crackdown “Operation Sovereign Borders”, and has served as the federal government’s special envoy on people smuggling. | Molan helped the Coalition design the asylum seeker boat crackdown “Operation Sovereign Borders”, and has served as the federal government’s special envoy on people smuggling. |
| Comment has been sought from Johnston. | Comment has been sought from Johnston. |
| In June, there was speculation of a ministerial reshuffle and suggestions that Johnston might be turfed from defence and replaced by the immigration minister, Scott Morrison. | In June, there was speculation of a ministerial reshuffle and suggestions that Johnston might be turfed from defence and replaced by the immigration minister, Scott Morrison. |
| The 2015 defence white paper will propose priorities and funding to meet Australia’s defence and national security goals, including the merits of a bigger defence presence in northern Australia. | The 2015 defence white paper will propose priorities and funding to meet Australia’s defence and national security goals, including the merits of a bigger defence presence in northern Australia. |