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

As many interested in this place would know, the Strategic Reform Program was to yield $20 billion over 10 years. The program lasted about nine days. That is because the budget that was brought down straight after the 2009 white paper failed to deliver any money in support of it. The promises of 2009 were simply left twisting in the breeze by a government that never regarded defence as a priority. Even worse, they regarded it as nothing more or less than a cash cow to be plundered. That is the legacy of Labor in defence.

By the time of the 2011-12 budget, the promises contained in and surrounding the Strategic Reform Program were never even mentioned. Labor's failed attempts to balance their overall budget were a step too far for a government that spent money as if there were no tomorrow. They treated defence as a convenient ATM. (Time expired)