Opposition defence spokesman Andrew Hastie has slammed the Labor government for scrapping hundreds of planned armoured troop carriers.

He says the Albanese government’s decision to spend billions of dollars on the local production of American-designed missiles is “strategic doublespeak” because of cuts being made elsewhere.

“Today’s announcement is a smokescreen to hide the truth about the Defence Strategic Review. The delays to strategic direction, the deferral of spending, and the cannibalising of capability as the Labor government cost shifts within the defence budget,” Mr Hastie said.

He said the timing of the announcement, a day before Anzac Day, was intentional in trying to hide the way the Labor government had “cannibalised” the army’s capability.

“The defence minister has talked about an increase in defence spending over the medium term and next decade but we don’t see any increase to the defence budget today.

“We’re cutting capability and we’re cost shifting, and that’s not good enough from the Albanese government.”