Department of Defence (Australia)
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Defence Australia is a department of the Government of Australia charged with the responsibility to defend Australia and its national interests. Along with the Australian Defence Force (ADF), it forms part of the Australian Defence Organisation (ADO) and is accountable to the Commonwealth Parliament, on behalf of the Australian people, for the efficiency and effectiveness with which it carries out the Government's defence policy.
Department headquarters at the Russell Offices complex in Canberra
Australian Defence Force
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The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is the military organisation responsible for the defence of the Commonwealth of Australia and its national interests. It has three branches: the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Australian Army and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The ADF has a strength of just over 89,000 personnel and is supported by the Department of Defence and several other civilian agencies.
The retirement of the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne without replacement in 1982 marked a shift away from the policy of "forward defence".
Australian soldiers lead a column of American troops during Exercise Kangaroo '89, which was held in northern Australia.
A RAAF C-130 Hercules being unloaded at Tallil Air Base, Iraq, during April 2003
Australian Army ASLAV armoured vehicles in Afghanistan during 2011