Phillip Thompson (Herbert, Liberal National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

Interject as much as you want. I would like to start by acknowledging our brave men and women who put on the uniform every single day in support of this nation. I say to them: I know that the freedoms that we enjoy are on the back of hard-fought battles that you and our forefathers have fought in, and we want to say thank you.

I commend the member for Petrie for moving this motion. It is clear that he understands the importance of supporting our defence industry and, in turn, the preparedness and capability of our Defence Force. Our sovereign defence industry is an essential cog in the defence machine. Without the support of both small and medium enterprises on our home soil, our national security will be put at risk, and, with Labor's 2023-24 defence budget, that's exactly what they've done. The budget handed down in May clearly states:

… local acquisition spend is expected to decline …

This statement is then backed up by data which showcases a purposeful decline in local equipment and acquisition spend, followed by an increase in overseas spend. Why? Why are hard-earned taxpayer dollars of the Australian people not being invested back in the Australian businesses that support our Defence Force?

COVID-19 is a very clear example of why we should not heavily rely on imports of other industries. In the case of construction, many companies were left without materials to complete their builds. The effect of a complete supply cut-off could be catastrophic for the Defence Force. The defence minister authorising further—

Be louder! You know I'm going deaf! I can't hear you when you're interjecting. You've got to be louder for me, mate!

The defence minister authorising further spending abroad, to the detriment of our own enterprises, is very concerning. We have to learn from mistakes.

You need to know the difference between AIC and FMS. FMS is foreign military sales, and there is a time for that, when we look at helicopters and other defence industry—

Well, I'm happy to go carefully if you want! I think that it's important to highlight the political games that the member for Solomon obviously wants to keep interjecting about. The member for Solomon put out a press release which said:

Labor has committed to a Force Posture Review and I continue to call upon the Morrison Government to give a clear answer on the future basing and maintenance of … the Apache helicopters, which were rumoured to be moving from the Territory to Townsville.

This would cost Territory jobs, and the government still won't be straight with Territorians about what's going to happen with their livelihoods. The statement continued:

It's clear that the Liberal/National Coalition Federal Government does not recognise Darwin as the Defence Capital of Australia that it is. A Federal Labor Government will.

What happened to those Apaches? They're moving to Townsville! So the politics of a press release when in opposition is not the same as when they're in government.

The member for Solomon wants to throw all the toys out of the cot and create politics. Politics! That's all they do, because, now in government, I haven't seen the member for Solomon attack the now government.

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