Minister still doubts if expense justified

Press, 29 January 1986, Page 1

Minister still doubts if expense justified

The Minister of Defence, Mr O’Flyhn, remains unconvinced of the Justification for expensive overseas training for senior military officers — the subject at the heart of his rift with defence chiefs.

Mr O’Flynn told, in his controversial statement on Monday, how he refused approval to post an Army colonel to Canada for a course last year. Defence chiefs took their concerns about this to the Prime Minister, Mr Lange, who overruled Mr O’Flynn. The statement by Mr O’Flynn alleged, “disregard for Ministerial authority” by two defence chiefs over his requirements for detailed information to explain and justify such postings. Mr O’Flynn told “The Press” yesterday he was still not satisfied that the costs were justified in terms of the benefits to the Armed Services. However, answering written questions, Mr O’Flynn said he was considering arguments on the matter put before him by the Services. Consideration was also being given to changes in

the practice of sending senior officers overseas for training, he said. The statement on Monday indicated his preference for more training of lower-ranked officers as a greater benefit to Army morale. However, Mr O’Flynn’s replies yesterday indicated he had approved another posting’since last August for an officer to attend the College of Defence Studies in London. This was on terms similar to earlier postings, and the cost was $103,653. Mr O’Flynn gave further information on the cost of the Candian posting which he rejected before being overruled by.

Mr Lange. The cost, he said, was $97,100, largely because officers on such postings were accompanied by their wives and children and did not live in provided accommodation but had to find their own. The expenditure in the case of the Army colonel included course fees of $18,605 and rental accommodation of $13,950. Also included were a location allowance of $99.08 a day, and a child allowance of $14.38 a day. An entertainment allowance of $2307 was paid, transfer expenses amounted to $11,868, and fares to $11,706. Further report, page 2.