The Coalition Government is committed to increasing its investment in Australian defence infrastructure.
Reports of massive job losses in the industry are speculative and nothing more than cheap Labor scaremongering tactics.
Labor’s promises on defence have no credibility: immediately following its 2009 White Paper, Labor cut or deferred $16 billion from the Defence budget out to 2016-17.
Over the last six years, defence spending dropped to levels not seen since 1938.
The former government’s decisions led to 119 defence projects being delayed, 43 projects being reduced in scope and eight projects cancelled, risking critical capability gaps.
Under the Coalition more than $1 billion worth of defence work is continuing in South Australia alone, including 44 separate acquisition projects such as the Air Warfare Destroyer programme, the support and upgrade of the RAAF’s P3 Orion aircraft fleet, and upgrades to ANZAC Class Frigates and the Army’s communications systems.
This is (in) addition to $34 million on the Future Submarine program – building our competencies and knowledge base in cooperation with industry.
Over the next four years – subject to the outcomes of the Defence white paper – there will be up to $4.2 billion in defence spending for building and sustaining defence materiel.
Australia will acquire eight P8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft and we have committed to the acquisition of the highly-capable Triton Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).
This Government will continue to invest in its defence industry to ensure the safety and security of all Australians.
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PacificSentinel: Sigh, the first statment from the new "Coalition" Defence Minister & it's just more of the same old "Labor Party" bashing nonsense as the last guy, it's time for the "Coalition" to grow up & get on with the job of protecting the nation.