David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Defence, Senator Faulkner. Defence analysts have roundly criticised the lack of funding accountability in both the defence white paper and the 2009-10 budget. ASPI’s highly regarded Dr Mark Thomson said:

As the first budget after a new Defence White Paper, there is a glaring absence of substantive information on funding, investment and reform.

The best that can be said is that the budget is consistent with a White Paper that’s silent on when anything will occur or what things will cost.

Minister, why were detailed costings of future procurements not presented in either the defence white paper or the 2009-10 budget, particularly in circumstances where the Chief of the Defence Force has indicated those procurements cost something between $245 billion and $275 billion?