The Defence Force’s Federation Guard precision drill team may have lodged a strong application to perform at the next Edinburgh Tattoo with its impressive display in Canberra on Monday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The team took to the field at the Russell Offices for a formal change-of-command ceremony for the Chief of the Defence Force, from General David Hurley to Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin.
The guard members marched, about-faced, swirled their rifles and fired blanks over the heads of the VIP party (who had been issued with ear protection).
Also impressive was the stoicism of the bare-chested Navy Indigenous Cultural Group, as they performed on the windswept Blamey Square with the apparent temperature just above zero.
A brace of screeching F/A-18s and a 17-gun salute completed the ceremony.
“We have accepted that the ADF did not always provide an environment where all members were safe from sexual, physical or mental abuse,” General Hurley said.
“As an organisation we are serious about addressing long-term cultural reform and we have demonstrated our willingness to act swiftly and decisively when instances of abuse or unacceptable behaviour occur.
“We are also fully committed to improving gender equality and diversity in our workforce.”
After 42 years of military service, General Hurley will become governor of NSW.
Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin said taking over “comes at a particularly challenging time as we are in transition’'.
He said he was committed to cultural reform in the ADF.
