Call for Aust military to be more chatty

Australia's defence establishment has become too cagey about telling the stories of modern diggers, war memorial director Brendan Nelson warns.

The Aussie military can be notorious for wanting to keep information hush-hush, Brendan Nelson says. (AAP)

The top brass of the Australian military can be notorious for wanting to keep information hush-hush.

Brendan Nelson who was defence minister in the Howard government a decade ago recounts a frustrating phone call he had with his officials warning him against discussing a particular military operation.

"Literally, as I'm on the phone having this conversation, I'm watching on CNN the same thing being broadcast to the world," Dr Nelson said.

Now the director of the Australian War Memorial, Dr Nelson made the case during an address to the National Press Club in Canberra on Tuesday for more openness about Australia's military involvement in the Middle East and Afghanistan conflicts.

"I do think Defence is overly cautious and sensitive about revealing information to the nation," Dr Nelson said.

"If we want to sustain public support for the decisions that our governments make, it's a two-way street of mutual responsibility."

He urged the federal government and key defence agencies to tell Australians more about what is actually happening and "not just the good".

Dr Nelson acknowledged it was important not to compromise the safety of troops in the field but insisted there was scope for more transparency.

But he argued the US military's significantly more open approach was not one Australia should copy.

"I think in some cases the Americans have gone too far and at times bordered on being a little bit cavalier," he said.