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

STATEMENT
LABOR WALKS AWAY FROM ITS OWN ASCA COMMITMENT

Tuesday 5 November 2024

Another day, another Albanese Government cut to defence capability.

Labor has again undermined its own defence initiatives as reports reveal the first major project under the Albanese Government’s Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator is being cancelled.

This comes at the cost of critical advanced and asymmetric technology programs that our Australian Defence Force requires.

The Albanese Government is walking away from their own commitments, leaving Australian defence industry to absorb the shock.

Under Labor, defence innovation has stalled and many of our best and brightest defence technology entrepreneurs have been stifled.

With this latest round of indecision, lack of investment and lack of clarity, Australian small and medium defence enterprises will languish in limbo, and some face insolvency.

Once again, this weak Albanese Government is proving it is just not up to defending Australia.

ENDS