Australia offers $200,000 and citizenship to lure mercenaries from Singapore, Poland, South Africa...

AUSTRALIA is boosting its ranks with foreign soldiers by offering cash bonuses of up to $200,000 and fast-tracked citizenship.

Veterans have hit out at hiring "mercenaries" from countries such as America, Germany and Singapore instead of recruiting more Australians.

Defence, meanwhile, has scrapped payments of $680 to single Aussie soldiers to fly home for Christmas.

Figures obtained by the Herald Sun show 726 international military personnel have come to Australia since 2006.

It is believed to have cost about $100 million to help them move.

The Victorian RSL says the force should be hiring Australians and training them. Full story...

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