Aussie navy given 2-month 'holiday'

Australia's navy has been sent on a two-month Christmas vacation, with military chiefs saying yesterday the long shutdown would not leave the country unprotected and was the only way to deal with staff shortages.

Navy commanders ordered all ships not on overseas operations to return to port over the traditional holiday, while docked vessels would have only a skeleton staff to maintain on-board security as other staff took leave.

"The stand down will not impact operations and is to ensure that our people who are not required on operations are able to take a meaningful period of time off and spend time with their families," Deputy Navy chief Rear Admiral Davyd Thomas said.