MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Two months Xmas leave for crew short Australian Navy

Christmas has come early to Australian sailors after the country's navy ordered an extended two-month holiday in response to staff shortages and a drive to attract and retain sailors with a better work-life balance.

Navy chiefs said the country would not be left unguarded after Australian ships not on overseas operations were ordered to return home for the unusually long shutdown starting December 3. Ships already in dock will rely on skeleton staff to maintain on-board security. Rear Admiral Davyd Thomas, deputy navy chief, said about 500 of the navy's 12,000 personnel would remain on active duty during the shutdown. "This has nothing to do with vulnerability [on] national security whatsoever," he said. "It's not reducing our readiness at all." Rear Admiral Thomas said the service normally took a one-month Christmas holiday but it would be extended this year so personnel could have a proper break from ship life. "It is not a matter of shutting down a ship. I would rather call it a reduced activity period," he said. The Australian navy has 2,020 skilled vacancies and a 27% yearly recruitment shortfall, exacerbated by 11% of staff quitting the service each year. Australia's submarine fleet suffered a critical crew shortage earlier this year as skilled technicians were lured into higher-paying jobs offered by the then-booming mining industry. Joel Fitzgibbon, Australia's Defence minister, said at the time the skills shortage was "probably the single biggest challenge facing the Australian defence force, and of course the service suffering most is the navy, where retention and recruitment has become a real crisis". He added the extended Christmas break was an interim measure. "It's just a way of saying 'thank you' and encouraging them [sailors] to stay in the service rather than leave," he said. However, David Johnston, opposition defence spokesman, said the move was highly unusual. "I've never seen a defence force charged with the protection of Australia saying we're going to have six-to-eight weeks off over Christmas because we think it's a good thing for mums and dads." He said it would also send the wrong message to people smugglers and illegal fishermen. The Australian Defence Association welcomed the move, which it said would assist sailors in managing careers and families. (FT).-