‘We need to grow our defence force’: Foreign nationals to be allowed in ADF

Defence Personnel Minister Matt Keogh says the government is extending their recruitment for the ADF to foreign nationals in a bid to "grow the force."

The government has begun looking overseas to help with its recruitment for the Australian Army, eyeing up permanent residents from the US, UK, New Zealand, Canada, and the Pacific Islands if they've been here for more than 12 months.

‘We need to grow our defence force’: Foreign nationals to be allowed in ADF

“It is a clear-eyed recognition that we are confronting a very low unemployment rate, which is a great thing for the country, but it is very difficult to recruit," Mr Keogh told Sky News.

“We do need to grow our defence force, and we are doing a number of things, this is certainly seeking to address that.”