Defence Administrative Orders and Directives

Defence Administrative Orders and Directives
Name	Defence Administrative Orders and Directives
Abbreviation	DAODs
Jurisdiction	Department of Defence (Australia)
Formed	1990s
Minister	Minister for Defence (Australia)

Defence Administrative Orders and Directives

Defence Administrative Orders and Directives (DAODs) are a system of administrative instruments used within the Department of Defence (Australia) to set internal policy, procedural standards, and responsibilities for officials and formations such as the Australian Defence Force components: Royal Australian Navy, Australian Army, and Royal Australian Air Force. DAODs interact with statutes like the Defence Act 1903 and directives issued by ministers such as the Minister for Defence (Australia) and institutions including the Defence Strategic Policy and Intelligence Group. The corpus guides conduct across activities linked to entities like Australian Signals Directorate, Australian Secret Intelligence Service, and agencies such as the Australian Defence Force Academy and Defence Science and Technology Group.

Overview

DAODs function alongside instruments including the Defence Force Discipline Act 1982, the Privacy Act 1988, and policies from bodies such as the Australian Public Service Commission and the Inspector‑General of the Australian Defence Force. DAODs are used to manage areas involving personnel matters affecting members of the Royal Military College, Duntroon, procurement activities engaging contractors like those working with ASC Pty Ltd and Boeing Defence Australia, and infrastructure overseen by agencies such as Defence Housing Australia and the Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group. They are referenced by commands such as Fleet Command (Royal Australian Navy), Forces Command (Australia), and Air Command (RAAF).

Legal Authority and Framework

DAODs derive their authority from statutes and executive instruments including the Defence Act 1903, directions from the Governor-General of Australia, and determinations by the Cabinet of Australia and the National Security Committee of Cabinet. They operate within the legislative environment set by acts such as the National Security Information (Criminal and Civil Proceedings) Act 2004 and interact with judicial oversight from courts including the Federal Court of Australia and the High Court of Australia. Oversight and audit functions involve agencies like the Australian National Audit Office and parliamentary committees including the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade and the Senate Estimates Committee.

Structure and Content of DAODs

DAODs are organized into thematic orders and directives that parallel subject-matter domains handled by organizations such as Defence Legal and ADF Investigative Service, and mirror practices found in allied institutions like the United States Department of Defense, the Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom), and NATO. The content covers conduct codes affecting personnel at establishments such as HMAS Cerberus and RAAF Base Amberley, risk management consistent with standards used by ISO bodies, and contracting rules referencing suppliers including Thales Australia and Lockheed Martin Australia. DAODs address operational support interfaces for exercises like Talisman Sabre and cooperation with partners such as the United States Indo-Pacific Command and the Five Eyes intelligence alliance (comprising Australia, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, New Zealand).

Development, Approval and Amendment Processes

Drafting and amendment typically involve branches including Chief of the Defence Force, Chief of Navy, Chief of Army, Chief of Air Force, and coordinating offices such as Head People Capability and Head Land Capability. Legal scrutiny is provided by Defence Legal and external counsel where necessary, with ministerial consideration by offices including the Minister for Defence Personnel. Revisions may be prompted by events like inquiries conducted by the Royal Commission model, recommendations from reviews such as the First Principles Review, or findings from tribunals and boards including the Defence Force Discipline Appeal Tribunal. Interactions with procurement reforms reference reviews like the Mortimer Review and policy shifts from entities such as the Productivity Commission.

Implementation and Compliance

Implementation relies on commands and formations including 1st Brigade (Australia), 3rd Brigade (Australia), No. 81 Wing RAAF, and institutions such as the Australian Defence Force Academy for training and dissemination. Compliance mechanisms include internal audit from the Chief Finance Officer (Defence), inspections by the Inspector‑General of the Australian Defence Force, administrative grievance processes administered through avenues such as the Australian Human Rights Commission, and disciplinary procedures under the Defence Force Discipline Act 1982. DAODs are enforced alongside standards from occupational safety regulators like Safe Work Australia when applicable.

Historical Evolution and Notable Revisions

The DAOD framework evolved during administrative reforms influenced by events and reviews including the Costigan Royal Commission era reforms, the Defence Efficiency Review, and the First Principles Review which reshaped Department of Defence (Australia) structures and accountability. Notable revisions have addressed issues raised by inquiries such as those into ADF sexual misconduct, reviews like the Jenkins Review and policy adaptations following major operations including Operation Slipper, Operation Sovereign Borders, and multinational missions including the Iraq War deployments. Changes have reflected international interoperability lessons from engagements with partners like United States Central Command and organizational learning from tribunals such as the Brereton Inquiry.

Category:Australian defence policy