EXCLUSIVE

SOME of the world's biggest weapons manufacturers and arms dealers are among companies to have wined and dined Defence executives and military officers, internal government records show.

The records shine a light on the relationship between the Defence industry's big hitters and the military, with more than 110 free dinners, lunches, theatre and football tickets given to the Defence Department's three-star personnel from a range of companies in the past three years.

The recently retired head of the Chief Capability Development Group, Vice-Admiral Matt Tripovich, enjoyed more hospitality than any other senior official - accepting almost one-quarter of all such events taken up by senior levels of the Australian defence establishment.

Admiral Tripovich, responsible for securing cabinet approval to buy new multimillion-dollar weapon systems, benefited from 28 invitations to dinners, concerts, the theatre and rugby Tests.