The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has approximately 248 star-ranked officers (Brigadiers/Commodores through Generals/Admirals) out of roughly 61,000 full-time active-duty personnel.

By comparison, the United States military maintains about 900 active-duty general and flag officers (GO/FOs) across its about 1.33 million active-duty troops.
 
Rank Ratio Comparison:
Australia has roughly 1 star officer for every 247 personnel (ratio of about 1:247).
US has roughly 1 star officer for every 1,450 to 1,500 personnel (ratio of about 1:1,480).
 
It seems that no one needs to be very intelligent or competent to become an Australian general or admiral! It is not only these numbers that stand out. Australian officers show little sign – after they retire – of have ever been anything than subservient to US military ideas and requests for auxiliary equipment.
 
Prominent Editor of The Australian newspaper, Greg Sheridan, has written:
“No one supports the US alliance more than me. But the real design principle of the ADF is a secret hiding in plain sight, which ought occasionally to be named. The whole ADF is designed not for defence of Australia, nor dominance in our waters, or even really to add strategic weight to US-led deterrence. It’s designed so we can bid to be small but exquisite niche participants in US operations, thereby earning alliance credit.”
 
While China could ultimately be a threat to Australia, Australian star-officers lobby for military equipment that the US wants for its own future war on China! They then seek – after retirement — to make money as often secret consultants on such projects as AUKUS. They get away with this because laws say that Australian journalists will be jailed if they report on this!

If — and I think “when” — it all goes wrong Australians need to remember that the modern-day military has little in common with the ANZAC story except to follow orders by a foreign country (Britain) to fight on their behalf (at Gallipoli).