Australia to allow foreign citizens into its army
Australia will soon allow non-Australians into its army. People from countries such as the UK, Canada and New Zealand can apply to join the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Australia is having problems getting people to sign up for its army. The government hopes that opening the army up to people from other countries will solve its recruitment problem. The ADF currently has a shortage of around 4,400 workers. From July, New Zealanders who are permanent residents in Australia can apply to join. Next year, those from the UK, US and Canada will have their chance. Australia's Defence Minister, Richard Marles, said it was possible that in the future, people from more countries could join.
Mr Marles said his country was changing its recruitment policy for security reasons. He said: "The Australian Government has chosen to grow the Australian Defence Force because it is essential to meet the nation's security challenges through the next decade and beyond." A Defence Ministry spokesperson said: "We're being bold in order to grow the ADF. Recruiting from a wider pool of people will help ensure [the ADF] reflects the full diversity of Australia, and is able to draw on the talents of [all] of Australian society." Opposition Foreign Minister Simon Birmingham disagreed with the policy. He said it showed government failure. He said: "We should be seeing more Australians with the confidence to sign up."
Part 1
1 The primary reason why people are not signing up for the army is the shortage in the labor market.
2 The government expects that allowing non-Australians to sign up for the army could enhance the quality of its forces.
3 The Ministry of Defence is not inclined to support recruiting people from different backgrounds.
4 There are disputes among government officials regarding the new policy of recruiting foreigners into the army.
Questions 5-11
FILL IN THE BLANKS USING THE WORDS IN THE TABLE
| crucial | security needs | diversify | qualified |
| permit | against | eligible | recruits |
| expand | faces | failure | challenge |
Australia will soon 5 non-Australians from countries like the UK, Canada, and New Zealand to join its army due to a shortage of 6 . The Australian Defence Force (ADF) currently faces a shortfall of approximately 4,400 personnel. From July, permanent residents of New Zealand in Australia can apply, with citizens from the UK, US, and Canada 7 next year. Defence Minister Richard Marles stated that this policy is 8 for meeting future 9 . Despite the government's strategy to 10 recruitment, opposition leaders argue that it indicates a 11 to increase domestic enlistment.
Questions 12-19
VOCABULARY
| pool | army | minister | draw on |
| shortage | diversity | defence | reflect |
| permanent residents | sign up | decade | recruitment |
| Word | Type | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | n | a lack of something |
| 13 | n | the status of having different things or people from different sources. |
| 14 | v | to register for something. |
| 15 | n | people who live in an area for a long-term period. |
| 16 | n | being against the attack from the outside. |
| 17 | n | to show or be a sign of something. |
| 18 | n | the person who is the head of a government department. |
| 19 | n | a group of people working for the government as soldiers. |