Defence recommits to another three years to defeat terror overseas in Federal Budget

AUSTRALIA will fast track its spending on military hardware including an increased presence on offshore counter terrorism operations in the 2017 Budget.

AUSTRALIA will fast track its spending on military hardware including an increased presence on offshore counter terrorism operations as it seeks to develop its “deter and defeat” strategy.

But the biggest winner will be the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast next year with an array of military technology to be rolled out to make it, and the preceding baton relay, one of the safest ever.

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Also set for a windfall will be most states in Australia that have an ADF presence with the Budget allocating funds for infrastructure upgrades notably Garden Island in Sydney and RAAF Williamtown in NSW.

The Budget has recommitted Australian troops to its various overseas operations.

Yesterday’s Budget has recommitted Australian troops to its various overseas operations with significant money allocations particularly for Operation Okra in Iraq, and also possibly now Syria, with an extra $100 million to secure that region for the future.

A commitment was also made closer to home with Defence assistance increases this year in the South Pacific countries notably Papua New Guinea and Timor.

The defence Budget overall will be grown to 2 per cent of GDP by 2020-21, three years earlier than initially forecast but in line with a pledge Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull made last year to US President Donald Trump as part of a regional defence strategy.

Trump has been urging Allies to commit to a minimum 2 per cent of GDP defence spend particularly if their own defence strategies were part reliant on US military assistance, which under Trump was looking to a significant military build-up.

Australia has about 3200 defence personnel deployed. Picture Gary Ramage

Defence Minister Marise Payne said yesterday the budget had shown the ongoing commitment to overseas deployment of about 3200 personnel notably in the Middle East, which she said was in line with Australia’s overall strategy of defeating elements of terrorism.

The Budget reveals the current Australian Defence Force strength of 59,194 personnel was still below targets but more flexible work arrangements and career options had meant numbers were not falling allowing for a greater build up.

This year was branded as the year more focus was to be made on personnel welfare, training and recruitment.

The defence Budget will grow to 2 per cent of GDP by 2020-21, three years earlier than initially forecast.

Defence will slash the number of contractors and consultants they use and the “non operational” overseas and business travel jollies by departmental staff to make more than $300 million in savings.

Some of that money, $34.2 million, will go toward military security for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and its associated Queen’s Baton Relay, where Defence will provide “niche capabilities” to support Queensland authorities, believed to include a Black Hawk helicopter, surveillance and sniper operations.

Among the bases to get a facelift this year, RAAF Williamtown is slated to get critical infrastructure upgrades and greater “capability”.

Meanwhile, RAAF Amberley in Queensland will receive infrastructure to take the new Chinook helicopter and C-27J Battlefield Airlifter, and there are new facilities for Woomera and Edinburgh in South Australia including for the new P-8A aircraft.

And Garden Island in Sydney Harbour will receive a new wharf construction and critical structure upgrades.