Joint Statement: ASPI analysis confirms Coalition's concerns

THE HON ANDREW HASTIE MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR DEFENCE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR DEFENCE INDUSTRY
SHADOW MINISTER FOR DEFENCE PERSONNEL
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR CANNING

PHILLIP THOMPSON OAM MP
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR DEFENCE
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR DEFENCE INDUSTRY
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR DEFENCE PERSONNEL
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR HERBERT

JOINT STATEMENT
ASPI ANALYSIS CONFIRMS COALITION’S CONCERNS


Monday 3 June 2024

The Coalition’s concerns about Labor’s defence Budget have been validated in an independent report by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI).

ASPI’s budget analysis states that Labor’s "rhetorical urgency is not being matched by action in the form of defence investment,” – something the Opposition has been warning of for the last two years.

On 17 April, following the release of Labor’s National Defence Strategy, Shadow Minister for Defence, Defence Industry and Defence Personnel, the Hon Andrew Hastie MP, stood up and called out the Albanese Government’s lack of defence spending in the current strategic environment.

Given the urgency of a reduced strategic warning time, the Coalition called for more funding now, not later.

Yet just weeks later, Labor’s Budget revealed that it has pushed over two thirds of the new funding in the forward estimates to 2027-28. There is no money now when it’s needed most.

This troubling detail is backed up by ASPI’s report which confirms "Australia needs to spend more on defence—and it needs to do so immediately." And that "this year's budget priorities are not directed towards strengthening the ADF's ability to fight in the next decade."

Under the Albanese Government, there has been $80 billion of cuts and delays to capability, a lack of strategy, and a lack of spending.

Labor proves time and again that they can’t be trusted on defence.

The Coalition reaffirms its commitment to spend more on defence than a weak Albanese Government, and sooner.


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  • Andrew Hastie
    published this page in Latest News 2024-06-03 10:38:08 +0800