Put defence ahead of sugar hits

After years of warnings about Australia’s deteriorating strategic position amid China’s arms build-up, the largest seen since World War II, the lack of attention paid to defence during the election campaign reflects poorly on Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton. The cost-of-living ­bidding war between the government and opposition has produced a sickly smorgasbord of sweeteners. But as Liberal sources have warned, it could take a Dutton government until the early 2030s to lift military spending above 2.5 per cent of GDP. That is well short of the optimal 3 per cent advocated by, among others, former Defence Department head Dennis Richardson, Sir Angus Houston, Kim Beazley and the US.

Hard choices need to be made if urgently needed weapons and equipment are to be paid for after years of underfunding by successive governments, Ben Packham wrote in Tuesday’s paper. The navy is hollowed out and the wider ADF unable to deter Chinese threats. And the Opposition Leader is yet to explain how the extra squadron of F-35 joint strike fighters he has promised, an important addition to the RAAF fleet, would be paid for.

After a flotilla of Chinese warships conducted live-fire exercises and a spy ship snooped near our waters, and unconfirmed reports that Russia wants to operate military aircraft from an Indonesian base, defence must be a central campaign issue. The Coalition has long seen it as a strong suit; Labor’s record is weak. It opted against pouring new money into the portfolio in the budget, and it forecasts military spending will be 2.04 per cent of GDP this financial year, rising to 2.23 per cent in 2028-29.

But Mr Dutton’s leaving the release of his policy so late, as he visits yet more petrol stations, is at odds with the gravitas he ran the home affairs and defence portfolios.