Shayne Neumann (Blair, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister. What mess did the Albanese Labor government inherit in the Defence portfolio and what actions has it taken to address this over the past 12 months in order to keep Australians safe?

Richard Marles (Corio, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for his question. It was great to be with him on Friday at the 150th Ipswich Show. A year ago today the Albanese government took office. It has been a transformational 12 months for our nation's security because this time last year it was all very different. Under the former government, Australia was drifting through a sea of broken relationships with great powers, with friends, with countries which should be our friends and with our region. There was a culture of making grand defence announcements on the basis of absolutely nothing—$42 billion worth of defence programs without a cent behind them.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Nationals will cease interjecting.

Richard Marles (Corio, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

And, when those opposite did spend money, they were completely out of control—28 different defence programs running a combined 97 years over time. They worked out that the world had become a complicated place, but they were incapable of making the difficult decisions to give rise to a strategic response, and that's because the defence ministry was a revolving door: six—really seven—different defence ministers during the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison government.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The Deputy Prime Minister will resume his seat. The—

Honourable members interjecting—

Order! The Leader of the Opposition is entitled to raise a point of order.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Speaker. It's on relevance. There's no mention yet of AUKUS and the relationship with the US and the UK delivered during that period.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Resume your seat.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It'd be relevant to—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Resume your seat.

Honourable members interjecting—

Order! There is far too much noise. The Deputy Prime Minister in continuation.

Richard Marles (Corio, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In 9½ years, there were 24 different ministers in the Defence portfolio, because they saw being defence minister as a trophy and they saw the Defence Force as simply an opportunity to raise money for the Liberal Party. Well, all of that has completely changed. In our first 100 days in office, we commissioned the Defence Strategic Review, and the government's response to it has recast our Defence Force for the first time in 35 years, giving it a clear direction for a new strategic posture, because we are able to make the difficult decision to prioritise money where it's needed most.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Nationals is warned.

Richard Marles (Corio, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We now do have a pathway for acquiring a nuclear powered submarine capability, with the first Australian flagged submarine in the water a full decade earlier than was anticipated this time last year. We are growing the defence budget significantly beyond what those opposite provided, and we are completely transforming our standing in the world, being treated far more seriously by our allies and beginning the process of stabilising our relationship with China.

But there is much more to be done, because this is long-term policy which actually requires application and follow-through. We know there are going to be many more difficult decisions ahead, but we're up for that because we understand the consequence of this moment and we are completely committed to giving this country a government which will keep it safe.