Stuart Robert (Fadden, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence Science, Technology and Personnel) Share this | Hansard source

Minister, I would like to return—noting your statement; and thank you for it—to the issue of budget and funding. I note the comment that you made regarding cyber funding—that slight $1.46 billion rounding error over 10 years. I note that you have said that it is an isolated incident—a one-off—but I remember doing the coalition's response to the Prime Minister's national security statement where she spoke about Australia's defence expenditure comparable to other nations in the world. After the speech, the transcript that followed, had a different series of wording and the transcript was changed. Once may be isolated, Minister, but twice, unfortunately, is a pattern. But let us not be churlish about these things. Let us move on to DSTO funding.

The 2013-14 defence portfolio budget statements say that in 2012-13 DSTO received $441 million in funding. Next year, 2013-14, DSTO will receive $427 million. That is a $14 million cut, Minister. Let us also not forget that, in 2010-11 to 2011-12, you cut $13 million, and for 2011-12 to 2012-13 you cut $22 million. Minister, that is a cumulative cut of at least $49 million out of DSTO. And they are undertaking a significant organisational reform program, which I think is wise—and can I say: I am impressed with the new Chief Defence Scientist, Dr Alex Zelinsky. What I am not impressed about, Minister, is how you can possibly justify cutting the DSTO budget by $14 million this year alone and cumulatively by $49 million. How do you justify that? And, more importantly, what have you cut—or, Minister, are the details to be advised? Are we talking about enhanced efficiencies, or is there reprioritisation of programs?

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