Defence white paper calls for 5000 more troops
MP ANDREW Wilkie has slammed the government’s plan to swell defence spending to two per cent of GDP and add 5000 troops to the armed forces.
National
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THE defence forces’ ranks are set to swell by 5000 uniformed troops under a strategic plan by the Turnbull Government that independent MP Andrew Wilkie has labelled “absurd”.
The next defence white paper — the third in seven years and due for official release on Thursday — will commit the government to honouring an election promise made by former prime minister Tony Abbott to increase defence spending to two per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2023.
The 5000 new uniformed personnel will be spread across all three armed services and take Australian Defence Force numbers to 63,000. The paper will outline major acquisitions including new warships, including nine new frigates and a number of offshore patrol vessels.
The federal government also intends to stick with a plan to buy 12 submarines, matching the number Labor governments promised in their strategic plans in 2009 and 2013.
But a decision on where the subs will be built is not expected until midyear after the government considers bids from Japan, Germany and France.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the white paper was fully costed.
“I know there has been discussion about defence spending as a percentage of GDP and the commitments will reach the level of two per cent of GDP, that is true,” he said.
“But let me say to you, what we are committing to our defence resources or defence resourcing are dollar amounts and they are dollar amounts focused for, determined to deliver, the capabilities that we need.
“It does have the result of a high level of spending on defence. We do live in more challenging times and it certainly will reach that two per cent of GDP level.”
Mr Turnbull described it as a “very substantial piece of work” that would focus on securing the nation.
The white paper has had a long gestation period.
It was delayed by David Johnston’s dumping as Defence Minister in December 2014, and delayed again when Mr Turnbull replaced Mr Abbott as Prime Minister in September 2015.
At the time of her appointment to the defence portfolio, new minister Marise Payne declared the new government needed to consider the white paper on its merits.
The opposition has been cautious in its approach to the plan.
ALP leader Bill Shorten questioned the timing of the paper’s release, noting it was already 12 months late.
“Is this about the defence of the nation or the defence of the Turnbull government,” he asked reporters.
Independent MP Andrew Wilkie said “the absurdity of this is breathtaking”.
“The need for more resources has come and gone so there is no need to expand the defence force at a time that we’re actually de-escalating our defence involvement overseas,” he said.
“If anything, there should be a public discussion about whether the defence force now can even be downsized or restructured.”
He said the government “cannot afford” to increase the defence force.
Labor Shadow Assistant Defence Minister David Feeney said the opposition wanted to look at the detail in the white paper before committing bipartisan support to measures.
Mr Feeney flagged Labor was willing to support a “plausible plan” to get to two per cent of GDP for defence spending.
“The challenge has always been for this defence white paper to set out that trajectory,” he told ABC Radio.
Originally published as Defence white paper calls for 5000 more troops
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