Anthony Albanese must stop using “weasel words” and speak frankly about the threat China poses to Australia, opposition defence spokesman James Paterson says.
In a major speech on Tuesday, Senator Paterson lamented Labor’s defence spending, arguing that it was effectively cutting the military budget by using existing funding to cover AUKUS – the $368bn plan to arm the Navy with nuclear-powered submarines.
But Senator Paterson also claimed the Albanese government had failed to explain to Australians why the country needs to spend more on defence, saying jargonised language “has real world consequences”.
“The main reason why it is so hard for defence ministers to get a dollar out of the (Expenditure Review Committee) is because we have collectively failed to earn and sustain the social license for the defence spending we need to protect our country,” Senator Paterson said.
“Against other worthy causes – some of which are more politically popular – defence keeps losing out.
“If the Australian public knew how likely conflict is in our own region in the near future, and how ill-prepared we were for it, they would be marching in the streets demanding higher defence spending.
“Instead of being honest with the Australian people about the threat and our preparedness, they are being lulled into a false sense of security.”
He went on to say that it was perverse that the government “is telling (Australians) we have stabilised our international relationships and we’ve never spent more on defence”.
“If that’s really true, Australians will wonder why we need to increase defence spending any further or even set aside $368 billion to acquire nuclear propelled submarines,” Senator Paterson said.
“Not unreasonably, Australians might assume that politicians who have access to classified intelligence and understand the nature of the threat would be spending whatever needs to be spent to keep us safe.
“Indeed, the Prime Minister has often said that’s exactly what his government is doing. There’s just one problem – it’s not true.
“It is almost impossible to find a defence or national security expert who thinks we are spending enough or moving fast enough.”
More to come