My call-up for National Service broke that cycle and opened a new world of opportunity for me. Recruit training was a major shock but I have nothing but fond memories of the experience – new mates, new skills, lots of sport, adventure, and a sense of pride and purpose – it was an exciting circuit breaker.

I then transferred to the Regular Army and served throughout the entire period of National Service from 1965 to 1972. It was a turbulent phase in our history with political debate over our involvement in the Vietnam war, ‘Save our Sons’ movements, moratorium marches and treacherous attacks on our returning diggers by left-wing radicals and misguided do-gooders.

In 1987 I was on the organising committee for the Vietnam Welcome Home Parade in Sydney and got to meet many former National Servicemen who now regarded their time in the army as the most important phase in their development as men. Many of them expressed a strong view that it was ‘just what their young bloke needed’!

Since entering politics I have worked with a number of youth organisations dedicated to helping troubled young people to get their lives back on track. I have also met many young people in the Western Suburbs of Sydney and in rural Australia who just need a break – an opportunity to do something meaningful with their lives.

I therefore believe we should explore the opportunities for developing a voluntary national civil service scheme that would act as a circuit breaker and offer them an opportunity to serve their community in a meaningful way – and develop into a better citizens as a result.

There is no doubt that such a scheme would be expensive – but the economic costs of implementing it should be balanced against the social costs of doing nothing.

I would appreciate any feedback you might have to add value to the idea.