David Fawcett (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Defence, Senator Bob Carr. I refer the minister to this year's budget, which saw a cut to Defence spending in real terms of around 10 per cent, taking government spending on Defence as a proportion of GDP down to 1.56 per cent, the lowest level since 1938. There is now widespread concern about the impact these cuts will have to fund Defence Force 2030, outlined in the 2009 Defence white paper, or even to sustain the existing force. Is the minister aware that the government is in the process of hollowing out Australia's Defence Force and does he understand why the Secretary of the Department of Defence said in a recent speech to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute that the 'maxim about matching dollars to strategy must perpetually ring in our ears'? Can the minister explain to the Senate why this government has been unable to retain the service of Major General Duncan Lewis—one of the most competent individuals ever to hold the appointment—who has resigned today after only one year in the role?