Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Shadow Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Hansard source

At the outset, Madam Deputy Speaker, I'll say that I heard the member for Wills—and I might have misheard him—call out to the shadow minister for defence, 'Walk the walk.' If anybody has walked the walk in this place, it's this bloke behind me. He was a member of the SAS regiment, and there's no finer regiment than that. In a minute we're going to hear from the member for Herbert, another fine soldier, somebody who has represented his country. I acknowledge all members in this place—including the member for New England, who's been a reservist—for their service to our nation and in uniform.

This matter of public importance discussion is about the last Labor government's defence spending cuts. I was a member of this parliament when Labor cut the heart out of defence spending. Indeed, a production in late 2013 spelled out exactly what Labor did. Labor's defence policy—what Labor said in this particular publication—and what Labor did were two completely different things. We've heard that Labor, during those six sorry years of chaos and dysfunction, reduced the defence budget as a percentage of gross domestic product to its lowest level since 1938—and we all know what happened in 1939.

Labor's 2009 defence white paper said, 'For the first time, an Australian government has committed to funding a defence white paper for the life of the white paper.' That's what Labor said. What did Labor do? Well, it never adequately funded its own defence white paper in 2009.

In May 2009 federal Labor 'released the most comprehensive defence white paper ever produced by an Australian government'. That's at least what they said they had done. What did they do? It was a disjointed, unfunded and unmitigated disaster.

'The government remains committed to a defence budget which ensures the ADF can meet the government's operational, force posture and preparedness requirements'—that's what Labor said it was going to do. What did it actually do? It kept defence spending at historically low levels.

Federal Labor has delivered a new secure funding model for Defence, including a commitment to an average annual three per cent real growth through to 2017-18.

That's what Labor said it was going to do. After the 2012-13 budget, defence was left in an unsustainable mess. And we, as an incoming coalition government, had to fix it—like always.

The … Government is also committed to making strategic, risk-based decisions about Australia's long-term national security and defence needs.

That's what Labor said it was going to do. Labor's 2013 Defence white paper was a political document designed to whitewash over its appalling defence record in policy.

'The government remains committed to fiscal discipline and improving the sustainability of the budget'—again, that's what Labor said it was going to do. But what did Labor do? It spent at least $150,000 of taxpayers' hard-earned money to provide a backdrop for its 2013 Defence white paper.

'There is no greater responsibility for government than the defence of Australia and Australia's interests.' I agree with that statement, which Labor made in its 2010 election document. But what did Labor do? Well, I can remember Prime Minister Gillard—as much respect as I have for her—sent her bodyguard to national security meetings. And that just simply wasn't good enough.

Labor's defence policy, through the white paper, 'confirmed the centrality of the alliance relationship with the United States'. What did Labor do? Well, its budget cuts earned a rebuke from respected US statesmen at the time.

A Rudd Labor Government will maintain a generous military superannuation system, in recognition of the importance of the ADF and the immense responsibility placed on personnel in securing and defending Australia.

Again, it's what Labor said it was going to do. What did Labor do? It never fairly indexed, and will never fairly index, military superannuation pensions.

The Defence Capability Plan (DCP) sets out Federal Labor's detailed planning for delivering Force 2030 through major projects and equipment acquisitions. It gives industry the guidance necessary for planning future investment and maximising involvement by Australia-based companies.

That's what Labor said it was going to do. But what did it do? It failed to articulate and enact a clear defence industry policy, and it forced local companies to the wall.

I think you get my drift. I was only up to number 11 of 30 defence failures. Thirty defence failures—I'll come back to those in a future speech, be sure of that. But you can clearly understand how Labor did leave our defence unprepared and how its policies were not in the national security interests of our nation. The first order of government is to protect its people. Labor, during the years from 2007 through to 2013, failed in that task. And, rest assured, I ask the government to make sure they make amends this— (Time expired)

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