Opposition leader Peter Dutton announces plan to boost defence spending

Opposition leader Peter Dutton has promised to lift defence spending by $21 billion over the next five years if he wins the election.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton (right) with opposition spokesman for defence Andrew Hastie (left). Picture: Richard Dobson / NewsWire

Opposition leader Peter Dutton has promised to lift defence spending by $21 billion over the next five years if he wins the election, but is remaining tight-lipped on what weapons he intends to buy revealing only that new guided weapons and drones were on the shopping list.

The extra allocated money is the biggest announcement made by the coalition since Mr Dutton pledged to fork out $3 billion for an extra 28F-35 stealth jets, which led to experts calling on the opposition leader to commit such a new squadron to the Top End.

On Wednesday afternoon, the coalition revealed their plan to increase defence spending, which would boost expenditure to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030, and to three per cent in 10 years.

By contrast, Federal Labor’s eight-year plan is to lift defence spending to 2.3 per cent of GDP by 2033.

Of note, Mr Dutton’s pledge is in-line with the Trump Administration’s demand for fellow western nations to boost military spending to three per cent.

At a press conference in Perth, Mr Dutton said the country needed to put more cash into its security.

“What we announce today is a record investment into defence which will be of particular benefit here in Western Australia, South Australia and other defence hubs around the country,” he said.

“Australia has an important role to play on the global stage and our own region but, most importantly, a good Australian government will always invest into keeping us safe.

“If we’re to preserve peace and stability in our region, and to be a good ally with partners, Australia needs to invest in defence.”

The announcement comes a month after Mr Dutton promised to spend $3 billion for an extra 28F-35 stealth jets.

Asked how the coalition planned to find the extra $21 billion, Mr Dutton said details would be announced later on the campaign trail.

“The reason in part that we’ve left to a later point in the campaign the announcement is to get a better idea of where finances are and how much money we can put into defence,” he said.

Mr Dutton also refused to say what assets would be acquired, but confirmed new guided weapons and drones were on the shopping list.

Defence Minister Richard Marles criticised the coalition’s lack of detail. NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Defence Minister Richard Marles said Australians should look at the coalition’s announcement with a “great degree of scepticism”.

“This is coming from the people who gave you $42 billion worth of announcements without putting a single dollar behind them,” he said.

“I mean, plucking a number out of thin air without explaining how you’re going to raise that and what you’re actually going to spend it on – that’s not defence policy.

“Doing that ten days out from an election is just a pathetic whimper.”

Originally published as Opposition leader Peter Dutton announces plan to boost defence spending