One former Australian prime minister thinks it’s a good idea and believes it could help bridge the gap between the government and citizens.
Former prime minister Tony Abbott has unveiled a bold new plan for Australian school-levers.
He wants to see these citizens spend a “significant period of time” giving back to their country, through methods which may include military service.
Speaking to the Institute of Public Affairs, the former PM says this move could help improve the “two-way street” between the Australian Government and the general public.
Mandatory military service isn’t unheard of – in South Korea men between the ages of 18 to 35 are expected to serve.
Recently we even saw South Korean pop sensations BTS announce they will be stepping away from the limelight until 2025 so they can all serve their country.
Austria, Cambodia, Norway, Israel and Finland also have a similar schemes.
One can only assume such a mandatory conscription programme would be hard to sell down under.
Military service is just one part of Abbott’s plan – what else has he suggested?
The former PM says there’s a lot of talk about what the government has to do for the people and not much discussion of how the general public can give back.
His bold plan could see school-leavers above the age of 18 spending six to 12 months in service.
Aside from being involved in the military, it could also include working in aged-care homes, Indigenous communities, or the Australian Peace Corps in the South Pacific.
He says there’s all sorts of things which people could do, and it’s all about chipping in.
Will this plan ever go ahead? Probably not so there’s nothing to worry about at this stage.
Australia’s last incident of compulsory military training was back in 1972 during the Vietnam War.
And it’s important to note despite this suggestion, the former PM has not himself ever served in the country’s armed forces.
