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

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to a report to the draft Defence white paper, which states:

A strong national economy is fundamental to a strong Defence Force. An economic surplus is Australia's best defence against the uncertain outlook.

Prime Minister: why, according to your own draft Defence white paper, have you now placed Australia's national security at risk by breaking your promise to deliver a surplus in 2012-13?

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

First, I am not going to speculate about an early, incomplete departmental working document that has been neither presented to government nor circulated to other relevant agencies but has apparently been leaked to the media. It goes without saying that the Defence white paper will be released, as the government has announced. The member, when it is released, may want to study that white paper.

On the question of the Defence budget, can I be very clear with the House and with the member who has asked the question. We were the first government to budget over $100 billion for Defence, and again this year we have budgeted $103 billion across the forward estimates. That is part of making the right decisions for national security. A little bit earlier this year I had the opportunity to outline the first ever National Security Strategy for the nation, and I refer the member to that.

I also refer the member to the fact that the opposition in the area of Defence has made a series of completely inconsistent statements about whether or not the opposition would add to Defence spending or would not add to Defence spending. We have had different statements from different spokespeople on different days. The Leader of the Opposition has said different things at different times. That kind of incompetence cannot be allowed to prevail. The opposition now has the opportunity to be crystal clear about its statements on Defence and crystal clear about budgeting for Defence and matching savings should they determine to make extra expenditure. I indicate, for example, that they have made commitments about indexation of military superannuation that have not been properly accounted for—

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise on a point of order on relevance. The Prime Minister was asked about her putting national security at risk because of her failure to deliver a surplus in 2012-13. She is now again spending her whole answer talking about the opposition. She was not asked about the opposition's policies.

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Manager of Opposition Business will resume his seat. The Prime Minister has the call and will return to the question before the Chair.

Honourable members interjecting—

Order! The Prime Minister has the call.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government will outline the Defence white paper. The government's budget for Defence is as I have outlined it. If the opposition wants to be taken seriously on this question it needs to be crystal clear about its policy statements, about costings and about matching savings. Given the completely contradictory statements made to date, no-one, at this point, can take the opposition seriously on Defence.

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

I seek leave to table page 82 of the draft Defence white paper that does not have 'early working draft' on it. It is complete. It is well structured—

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Fadden will resume his seat. Is leave granted?

Leave not granted.

I remind members that when they have been told they no longer have the call, they no longer have the call.