Jeff Kennett: In a changing world, we must boost spending on defence
In a world that is quickly changing, and more so since President Trump was sworn into office, we must urgently support a changing of spending priorities to ensure Australia has more military strength.
Victoria
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When Australia can have three foreign warships conducting live weapon drills, with maybe a submarine in attendance, and we did not know about it, what does it say about Australia’s defence capacity?
If it is true that our Prime Minister did not know about the Chinese activity, and misled the country as to when he knew, then you know we are in great trouble – first about our military capacity, second about our elected government misleading the citizens of Australia.
For years now we have known our defence capability, and personnel numbers could not even defend Tasmania, let alone the great land mass of our continent, with its almost endless shoreline.
Evidenced by refugees still being able to land here by boat without being detected.
Defence expenditure for this financial year is just 2.03 per cent of Gross Domestic Product, rising to a paltry 2.3 per cent nine years from now in 2033-34.
The number of personnel in all our armed forces, army, navy and air force, equates to just over half the Melbourne Cricket Ground full. That number may have fallen since I was last given that figure.
In a world that is ever so quickly changing, and more so since President Trump was sworn into office in January, Australia, our political leaders, we the public, must urgently support a changing of expenditure priorities to ensure we have a relevant military strength.
When I was called up for National Service in 1970 Australia was spending 2.97 per cent on defence expenditure. That might not seem a great deal of difference from the 2.03 in this year’s accounts. We should be aiming for 5 per cent of GDP being spent annually on Australia’s defence.
We certainly need to make service in the military again attractive for our young men and women. It is an exciting career.
As a patient in a hospital for a few days recently, I was encouraged by the number of young people, mainly women who have just completed their nursing career, entering service.
We must find a way to do that within our military forces.
What we do about a Prime Minister who fudges, or worse the fact that we have foreign naval ships, conducting live military exercise drills off our shore without informing us, has got to be worse than a worry.
I am not a warmonger, but we have seen before where countries are unprepared for an attack on their territory, the damage that can be caused.
When you have a look at the promises being made going into the federal election, and the massive financial implications, there has only been one new commitment for defence: 28 new Joint Strike Fighter aircraft, which I welcome.
Australia must be prepared, proactive rather than responsive.
Originally published as Jeff Kennett: In a changing world, we must boost spending on defence
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