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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Daniel Hurst Foreign affairs and defence correspondent

Two former defence leaders paid almost $800,000 to review Australia’s military capabilities

Stephen Smith Angus Houston Australia United States Andrew Hastie Richard Marles David Johnston ADF
Former Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith (left) and former Chief of the ADF Angus Houston speak during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Wednesday, August 3, 2022.
Former defence minister Stephen Smith (left) and former chief of the ADF Angus Houston have consulted thinktanks and defence contractors as part of review into Australia’s defence capabilities. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

Two former defence leaders are being paid close to $800,000 combined to carry out a major review for the Albanese government, including a confidential update delivered this week.

Contract records show the former chief of the Australian defence force Sir Angus Houston is being paid $470,000 for his work on the defence strategic review, while the former Labor defence minister Stephen Smith will receive $306,496.

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