Peter Hendy (Eden-Monaro, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

About three weeks before the election campaign started the then junior minister for defence popped up in Queanbeyan and promised again that they would implement that policy—a policy they never implemented in six long years of government. So my first question will be related to that: what are we doing with respect to that indexation promise?

An honourable member interjecting—

So you are opposing it, are you?

An honourable member interjecting—

You are opposing it again? You promised at the last election and you are opposing it. That is amazing! There was a promise from Labor in 2007. There was a promise in 2010 from the member for Eden-Monaro. There was a promise in 2013. Has it been delivered in this budget?

My second issue is that it is very well known, as you said in your introductory remarks, Minister, that $25 billion was cut out of defence. It is well known also, although they have the discretion not to go and give it in a press conference, our US allies have been very concerned about that.

An honourable member interjecting—

We know, mate. Absolutely. We know. They have been very concerned. And, with respect to the pivot to Asia, the US has been very concerned about the cut by the last government, the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd government, of $25 billion to forward estimates for defence expenditure. Can the minister give us an update on the views of our US ally about the reversal of those cuts to the defence budget? Lastly, you mentioned in your initial presentation, Minister, the Labor promise to move Fleet Base East from Garden Island to Brisbane.

An honourable member interjecting—

No, it was their policy; the Prime Minister at the time announced it. The fact is that they never satisfactorily explained what would happen to the Port of Eden ammunitioning wharf if Fleet Base East were moved 1,000 kilometres north. It would leave the electorate of Eden-Monaro and move up the coast, probably to Queensland. I am wondering if you have a comment about that with respect to the defence budget, Minister.

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