THE HON LUKE HOWARTH MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR DEFENCE INDUSTRY
SHADOW MINISTER FOR DEFENCE PERSONNEL

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

JOINT STATEMENT
DEFENCE WAR WITHIN LABOR GOVERNMENT AT CRISIS POINT

February 12, 2024

Labor’s weak leadership and failures in Defence is at crisis point putting critical projects, Australian jobs and our national security in the firing line.

The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) Defence Major Projects report, released last week, revealed that in one year of the Albanese Government (as of 30 June 2023), our most significant defence projects are running late by 37 years.

And now we hear the $1 billion Rheinmetall Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles (CRV) deal is at risk.

In July of last year, just months after gutting Army’s LAND 400 infantry fighting vehicle program, the Prime Minister flew to Germany, and assured Australian defence industry that the Boxer program and export deal would “secure well-paid jobs in Queensland and across the country.”

The failure of the Prime Minister, and his Defence Ministers, to do their job is now putting countless Australian jobs at risk.

Instead of supporting the program and providing certainty for the future, the Defence Minister and Defence Industry Minister have abandoned their post, leaving the project, Australian defence industry, and Queensland jobs vulnerable.

294 days after the Defence Strategic Review was released, it is clear that the Albanese Labor Government is failing Defence at every turn.

With no new money, no National Defence Strategy, no Integrated Investment Plan, no Defence Industry Development Strategy, insufficient new orders, it’s clear that this Labor Government has no plan, no action, no leadership, no clue when it comes to defence.

Weak leadership fails to act.

Weak leadership fails to show up.

Weak leadership fails to take responsibility.

Weak leadership puts our troops at risk.

Richard Marles and Pat Conroy must step up to the job, or step down.