Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Abetz for that question, and I also thank him for his tireless commitment to the ADF. Protecting our nation's security and also our nation's sovereignty are essential preconditions for our nation's prosperity. The Morrison government is investing over $270 billion in Australia's defence capability over the next decade alone. This is the biggest investment in the ADF's capability in many generations. This investment is meeting the challenge of our region's rapidly changing and also deteriorating strategic environment. As Minister for Defence, my focus is now on ensuring Defence delivers the three new strategic objectives we have set them—that is, to shape, to deter and to respond.

I'm particularly proud our government has restored the defence budget to two per cent of GDP, achieving a commitment we made in 2013. Defence and defence industry now have the certainty, the funding and also the road map they need to deliver the 2020 Force Structure Plan. The defence budget is also providing an important contribution to the Australian economy and to Australian jobs. Over 15,000 companies now support defence, and that is over 70,000 Australian workers. That number is increasing, even during COVID-19 this year. We've got a $1 billion COVID-economic-recovery package supporting 4,000 Australian jobs, and our local industry capability plans are now awarding 73 per cent of infrastructure work to local businesses. Defence, through the leadership of this government, is rising to the challenge to build a stronger nation and provide an important and enduring contribution to our nation's economy.