Glenn Lazarus (Queensland, Palmer United Party) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Johnston, the Minister for Defence. The Australian Defence Force is responsible for keeping our country safe and secure. Our Australian Defence Force personnel demonstrate the most extraordinary courage by putting their own lives at risk to keep the lives of all Australians safe and secure, both at home and abroad. The risk of terrorism has increased in recent times and military personnel are being targeted across the world. Our own military personnel are being told not to wear their uniforms in public for safety reasons. The previous Australian Defence Force remuneration agreement from 2011-2014 included a nine per cent increase over three years. The government is currently negotiating a three-year agreement and is only offering our defence personnel an increase of 1.5 per cent per year. Senator Johnston, why is your government trying to shaft the Australian Defence Force by only offering them an increase of 1.5 per cent per year? Do you think this is an acceptable result for Australia's Defence Force personnel?