Former Northern Territory Chief Minister, CEO of Hancock Agriculture Adam Giles says Australia should adopt 5 per cent GDP defence spending
With Trump’s latest suggestion that Australia should increase their defence spending to 3.5 per cent GDP, the Former Northern Territory Chief Minister said we should be striving towards 5 per cent. SEE WHY
News
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Australia should not only answer the call from US President Donald Trump to increase defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP – we should top it, according to former Northern Territory Chief Minister and Hancock Agriculture boss Adam Giles.
Speaking at the Townsville Bulletin’s Future Townsville event on Wednesday, Mr Giles – the chief executive of Hancock Agriculture and S.K. Kidman – outlined his belief around non-bureaucratic defence spending.
“We are in a garrison city, we see what’s going on overseas with conflicts around the place,” he said.
“There is pressure for Australia being applied by the US for us to increase defence spending.”
Mr Giles said 5 per cent GDP is a mark Australia “should be looking at”.
“We shouldn’t be looking at that from a bureaucratic level, it’s got to be at an activity level,” he said.
“Townsville, our biggest Northern base, and of course Tindal in Katherine and Darwin and other locations, we should be targeting 5 per cent GDP on defence spending on non-bureaucratic defence spending and that will see the flow on effects to places such as Townsville and other regional parts of Australia as we seek to defend our nation. ”
“Not for China or not for any jurisdiction in particular, but that allows us to have a greater sense of presence around defence.”
Mr Giles said it would also allow Australia to have a lot of investment into other technologies, not just “soldiers and boots on the ground.”
Chair of the Port of Townsville Ann Sherry agreed that defence was a “great catalyst for technology innovation”.
“Lots of parts of the world have had whole technology centres built around big garrison centres,” she said.
Mr Giles gave an example of the South Australia’s government 20 years ago forming a defence development committee, which targeted “ex-defence senior officers” who worked with the state government to lobby the federal government.
“That’s why we see a lot of submarine work and other things that go on around South Australia in terms of defence,” he said.
Mr Giles said with Townsville being the most significant defence in northern Australia, it presents an opportunity to have a “fair dinkum strategy” without bureaucracy and red tape.
“ … A fair dinkum strategy, led by someone such as Thommo [Phillip Thompson] who can go out there and provide the leadership to get the investment into Townsville around defence, get the defence spending up and see all those benefits that will come,” he said.
Herbert MP Phillip Thompson told the Townsville Bulletin earlier in the week that Townsville should be considered for an east coast nuclear submarine base.
“We should have been looking at the opportunities for AUKUS around the port,” he said.
“Townsville is perfectly placed … to be able to provide support and the maintenance.”
Defence Minister Richard Marles recently said during a Q&A at the Defending Australia 2025 Summit – when asked if China is a military threat to Australia – that China has engaged in
“biggest conventional military build-up since the end of the Second World War”.
“It unquestionably is at the heart of the complex strategic circumstances that we face,” he said.
“Really, it is shaping more than our region, it is shaping the world.”
On the global stage the planned meeting between Trump and Anthony Albanese at the G7 Summit in Canada earlier this week, was canned when the US President left suddenly, citing the conflict in the Middle East.
It is still not confirmed if the two will meet anytime soon.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles was grilled earlier in the week on Channel 9 when asked who will come to Australia’s aid amid ongoing conflict escalations.
When asked about the US’s push to 3.5 per cent, Mr Marles said the point to make here is that we have increased our defence spending.
A similar push during Trump’s first term for 32 countries to increase their spending to 2 per cent, has been adopted by 22 of the countries.
More Coverage
Originally published as Former Northern Territory Chief Minister, CEO of Hancock Agriculture Adam Giles says Australia should adopt 5 per cent GDP defence spending
Jury dismissed, man sentenced for “barbaric” assault
The jury of a torture trial were discharged as the alleged victim chose not to continue giving evidence, on what was supposed to be day three of the proceedings.
WATCH: Fight breaks out during Origin night at busy NQ pub
Video has emerged of a fight breaking out involving at least a dozen people – some in Qld jerseys and some in NSW jerseys – during the State of Origin at a popular NQ pub.
Katter calls out ‘unfair’ and ‘flawed’ charter school flight model
Calling out a “fundamentally flawed and unfair” agreement, Robbie Katter says action is needed to help remote and rural families and students access school charter flights.
Bold ideas to boost Townsville tourism sector
Outlining areas of growth that could benefit Townsville’s tourism , one panellist at the Future Townsville event put forward a bold statement that the city needs “ten more hotels now”.
Townsville’s liveability grade shows room for improvement
Giving Townsville the grade of “B, B+ at best”, in terms of liveability compared to other regional cities, the keynote speaker at the Future Townsville event said the city needs to make better decisions now.
“No more government breathing down your neck”: Crisafulli’s approach to coal, explained
Queensland’s coal industry can expect a smoother approvals process and no policy surprises Premier David Crisafulli has vowed — in exchange for the LNP government sticking to the existing controversial royalties regime.