With large cuts in the last ADF budget one would think austere living or at least leadership-by-example would be in order for our top star-ranked officers.
Not so. They will get a pay-raise. And, it won't even be performance-based.
General Hurley's annual salary of $679,500 is due to climb to $780,000 or $15,000-a-week by July 2014 or almost twice the rate of the next rung down.
Vice-chief Air Marshal Mark Binskin employs seven staff in his office, including a communications adviser and a driver - but no chef.
Defence said none of the staff employed by top brass was "personal" but were employed to "assist in the conduct of official duties".
The Government is cutting more than $5.5 billion over four years from the defence budget and lower ranks are being asked to do more with less.
Today, the "mission" of the ADF is not to defend the country. It exists to keep taxpayer funded oxygen-thieves in a style of comfort they have become accustomed to and see all this as their due.
