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| Down Under |
| Australia navy off for Christmas |
| 2008-11-18 |
| Most of Australia's navy is to be given two months off over Christmas as part of a new strategy to cope with crew shortages, the defence minister says. Joel Fitzgibbon said the extended break was a way of encouraging sailors to stay in the service. The number of sailors who stay aboard docked ships will be reduced, to make sailors' duties more family-friendly. Mr Fitzgibbon rejected claims by the opposition that the move would affect national security. The opposition said the venture was an admission that the government had failed to recruit enough sailors. |
| Posted by:john frum |