Ian Campbell (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment and Heritage) Share this | Hansard source

I am happy to get all of the details that Senator Hutchins has asked for. The government is very focused on making sure that Australian taxpayers get value for their money. What we see in defence under the Howard government is a substantial increase in defence spending, a substantial movement in defence spending towards the sharp end in making sure that we are combat ready, and historic levels of investment in world-leading technologies to ensure the defence of Australia. It is in stark contrast to the running down of Australia’s defence preparedness under Labor, the running down of investment in defence under Labor and the massive decrease in combat readiness under Labor. It is audacious of Labor to ask questions about major defence contracts when everyone always remembers Labor’s management of defence contracts. Senator Kemp regularly says three words about the biggest bungled defence contract in Australian history under Labor: the Collins class submarine.