Fraser Anning (Queensland, Katter's Australian Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) on 11 July 2018, United States President, Mr Donald Trump, told NATO leaders they should increase their defence spending to 4 per cent of their country's economic output,

  (ii) the United States spent approximately 3 per cent of its GDP on defence last year,

  (iii) Australia spent approximately 2 per cent of its GDP on defence last year,

  (iv) we live in a volatile geo-political environment, and Australia ought to have strong defence capabilities to defend the air-sea gap approach to our borders, and

  (v) historically, during the 1950s and 1960s, Australia spent on average 3 per cent of its GDP on defence; and

(b) calls on the Federal Government to increase its defence spending to a target of 4 per cent GDP to protect all Australians.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The 2018-19 budget maintains the government's commitment to provide Defence with a stable and sustainable funding growth path, with the defence budget growing to two per cent of GDP by 2020-21. The government are confident defence funding is sufficient to execute our plans for defence and to protect our nation's security and prosperity. Before we came to power, Labor reduced the defence budget to 1.56 per cent of GDP, the lowest level since 1938. Over the next decade, from 2018-19, the $200 billion Integrated Investment Program demonstrates the government's commitment to creating a more potent and capable Defence Force through programs such as the continuous naval shipbuilding program, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program and the purchase of a fleet of new combat reconnaissance vehicles to protect our troops.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that motion No. 1134 be agreed to.

A division having been called and the bells being rung—

Cory Bernardi (SA, Australian Conservatives) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I added a voice to that in support, and it was the wrong motion. I made a mistake. I don't support this motion as it currently stands.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

With the leave of the Senate, I will cancel the division, given Senator Bernardi's statement. The division is cancelled.

Question negatived.