Andrew Broad (Mallee, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to talk to the House today about the importance of our defence system. We have now committed to spending $12.4 billion on F-35 Lightning aircraft. I think that it is important to reflect on our history whilst we need to spend money such as this even in difficult times. The first role of the government is of course the security of its people, and threats to security do come quickly and often unexpectedly.

It was 7 December 1941 when Japan first entered the war with the bombing of the American Navy fleet in Pearl Harbor. It was 15 February 1942 that Singapore fell and the capture of 80,000 British and Australian troops, arguably one of the darkest days in our military history, and it was 19 February 1942 when Darwin was bombed for the first time. From the entry of Japan in the Second World War to the defence of Australia was a period of 10 weeks. So a standing defence system, whilst expensive, is essential.

I, like all peace-loving Australians, hope and sincerely pray that we will not have to use this aircraft in conflict. However we do live in the real world not the ideal world and I am proud that our government takes the defence of its people seriously.