There is a can not attitude in Defence. If Australia was ever to go to war, assets such as tankers and AWACs need high numbers of crews- look at USAF Gulf War hours for reservists on transports etc.
Gnadenburg, Mate,
Pretty sure we ARE at war - well at least that's what my mates in the Gulf say... and the parents of the dead Aussie soldiers would probably agree. FFS we ARE doing the job now!