In a dangerous world, national security cannot wait
Alarm bells are ringing on Australia’s commitment to defence. Interventions this week from the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and US Secretary of Defence Peter Hegseth about the inadequate level of Australia’s defence funding are a warning light the government must not ignore.
Australia is entering the most challenging strategic environment since World War II – and we are not ready. Our region is becoming more contested, more volatile and more exposed to coercion. We are already seeing cyber attacks, unsafe intercepts of Australian aircraft, and foreign grey-zone operations at our doorstep.
Indeed, it’s better to prevent conflict than live through it. Yet despite this urgency, the government has failed to substantially increase Australia’s spending on defence. Labor has chronically underfunded defence because it can’t manage its budget or the economy.
We must ensure our defence force has the funding it needs to keep our nation safe and prepared. Before the election the Coalition committed to increasing defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP within five years and 3 per cent within a decade. As shadow treasurer, I worked closely with Andrew Hastie, James Paterson and Jane Hume to find the savings to fund this increase. It was hard work but important because we must deliver capability at the scale the times demand.
Going forward we must continue to pursue this ambition as any serious party of government should. Australia must commit to increasing our defence spending to at least 3 per cent of GDP, and Labor must find ways to finance it.
The first duty of any government is to protect its citizens. Labor is failing to match this serious duty with funding and action. It needs to catch up or risk jeopardising Australia’s safety. But it’s not just how much we spend – it’s how well we spend it.
Australia must get better at translating defence investment into deployable outcomes. That means reducing procurement lead times, working with industry early, and creating a stable pipeline of demand so businesses can invest, hire and build. That’s why I’m focusing on four urgent national imperatives – themes I’ll return to throughout my time in this role.
First, we must move from rhetoric to readiness. The government itself says the strategic environment is deteriorating. It says urgency is required but since the Defence Strategic Review, we’ve seen more reannouncements than results. Minimum viable capability delivered quickly is better than gold-plated systems stuck in endless planning loops, and can be consistent with sovereign capability.
We can’t afford another decade of “on-hold” projects. Every delay widens the gap between what Australia needs and what the ADF can actually deliver. Defence must be delivered, not just promised.
Second, Australia must stand on its own two feet. AUKUS is a vital partnership and has bipartisan support but we cannot afford to treat our alliances as a substitute for sovereign strength.
Standing on our own two feet doesn’t mean standing alone. It means carrying our weight – so when we stand with allies, we bring capability, not just good intentions. That means building sovereign capability in key areas including drones, guided missiles, cyber and undersea technology. We will never have the scale of the United States but we cannot let that diminish our resolve.
Third, agility must become a strategic asset. Our adversaries are moving fast – modernising their militaries, deploying grey-zone tactics and testing boundaries. If the ADF can’t respond quickly and flexibly, it will be outpaced before it fires a shot. Agility is the new strength. That means faster decision-making, a leaner, more responsive command structure, and the ability to deploy rapidly across our northern approaches, the Pacific and Southeast Asia. We need a force that fits the world we live in – not the one we hoped for.
Fourth, people are the foundation of national security. ADF personnel are leaving faster than we can replace them. Fewer Australians are signing up to serve, morale is under pressure, housing is tight and families are stretched.
Defence begins with people. If we can’t attract and retain those willing to serve, we can’t defend the country. We must support and increase our members in uniform, improve conditions, and ensure every veteran knows their service is valued. I have taken on the role of shadow defence minister at a time of immense consequence. I don’t come to this job with a military background, but with experience in economics, reform and delivery – leading complex projects across business and government, and working to make systems perform under pressure.
Defence now needs that kind of focus because this is now about serious questions: whether Australia can defend itself, deter aggression and support our allies with real capability – not just rhetoric. My predecessor, Andrew Hastie, brought strength and conviction to this portfolio. He made it clear the era of strategic warning is over. That Australia must be able to act, not just react. That we must be clear-eyed about threats but never lose our sense of purpose and national unity.
The time for talking is over. We’ve had the warnings. The only question now is whether we act – fast enough, smart enough, and together. In a dangerous world, national security cannot wait.
Angus Taylor is shadow minister for defence.
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