Taxpayers have been warned to brace for a massive increase in defence costs with Anthony Albanese saying he will spend whatever it takes, and AUKUS architect Scott Morrison saying the defence budget will need to lift to 2.5 per cent of GDP, which is almost another $9 billion a year.

Ahead of next week’s announcement of the details of Australia’s nuclear submarine program, the prime minister said the opposition and others should stop quibbling about revenue decisions such as the recent tax increase on superannuation accounts worth more than $3 million.