PM condemned over lack of urgency on defence

There is an underlying assumption defence spending will deliver the required capabilities smoothly and seamlessly (“Doing enough: Anthony Albanese leaps to his own defence”, 28-29/6). Depressingly, nothing could be further from the truth. Whenever government nostrums are offered, there is barely a murmur about Australia’s capacity to deliver on spending commitments, current or future. Glib statements never come to grips with the realities of program management and endless competition for people, materials, technologies, infrastructure, and other scarce inputs within Australia or overseas. There are real limitations on the capacity of defence industry across all Western democracies, none of which are resolved easily – just ask those who are actively supporting Ukraine while trying to rearm themselves. Thanks to the failures of successive governments, the key factor is time. We are late to the party by at least five years, and possibly 10, which means anything we do now will cost more and may be just too late, just as we were in 1939. And the PM thinks we’re doing enough.

Patrick Gallagher, Wyongah, NSW

When will Anthony Albanese understand that it is not what Donald Trump wants, it is what Australia needs? The federal government’s primary role is the defence of the nation in every legal and physical sense. What is it that the Prime Minister doesn’t understand about this?

Bruce Morgan, Noosa Heads, Qld

Chris Kenny gets it right when he slams Anthony Albanese and Penny Wong for their ineptitude, clearly calling them out as unfit for their respective positions (“PM and Wong: ferals who pretend to be moderates”, 28/6). This pair are doing the nation no favours. The international community must surely see us now as fairweather soldiers who sponge on others. Sadly we are not in a strong position to turn this situation around. Albanese appears not to be concerned with this. The Labor Party needs to take action now.

John George, Terrigal, NSW

The Labor Left has never been a supporter of our military alliance with the US, so perhaps this explains Anthony Albanese’s position on defence spending. Not lifting our defence spending will earn the ire of the US, thereby putting the alliance at great risk. Left supporters wanting to see the end of the US alliance are undoubtedly over the moon about Albanese’s intransigence.

But no one should expect Trump to ease the tariffs on Australian steel while Albanese keeps poking him in the eye. There’s a pretty good chance that if Albanese keeps to his current script then Trump will do what he is now doing to Spain, increasing tariffs while Spain continues to refuse to do its bit in building mutual military deterrence. Who would blame him?

Brian Barker, Bulimba, Qld

The world order has changed again. In contrast, the reactions of Anthony Albanese and Penny Wong suggest that they reacted as “stunned mullets” and very badly let us down on the international stage. It’s one thing to stick to one’s student politics through thick or thin, but this pair should realise they represent some 27 million Australians, of whom I suggest relatively few support the anti-American stance taken by Albanese and Wong.

Bob Miller, Leederville, WA

To those castigating the Prime Minister for lack of defence spending, I say get real. Australia is indefensible with such a small population and the reluctance of any youth to join services or indeed work at all, and the only likely adversary would be China, who can walk in any day.

Australia just does not figure in world affairs at all despite the yearning of writers to this page. Better to keep any spare cash for home consumption.

Margaret Downie, Armidale, NSW

I feel some sympathy for Anthony Albanese. After his humungous victory at the polls, he should be relaxing and having a good old laugh at the smashing of the Coalition, although this smashing was not all the work of the Labor Party. However, along came Iran and its proxies and completely rained on Albanese’s party. With the UN, the EU and NATO up for a change of stance, Australia is now looking pretty lonely and this can only lead to disaster. Recently, Australia is definitely not known for strong leadership. This should put the shivers down the backs of most Australians.

Peter Surkitt, Sandringham, Vic