Americans will soon be able to join the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Australia needs more people to join its army. The government hopes that getting people from other countries will solve this problem. The ADF needs around 4,400 workers. Only Americans who are also permanent residents in Australia can apply. Australia's Defence Minister, Richard Marles, said it was possible that in the future, people from more countries could join.

Mr Marles said Australia is growing the ADF "because it is essential to meet the nation's security challenges through the next decade and beyond". The Defence Ministry said: "Recruiting from a wider pool of people will help ensure [the ADF] reflects the full diversity of Australia." The opposition party disagreed with the policy. It said it showed the government has failed. It said: "We should be seeing more Australians with the confidence to sign up."