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  • Election defence promises wiped out in Budget

    11/05/11

    Defence is one of last night’s biggest casualties and is destined to suffer long term damage to help bail out a Labor Government that is addicted to debt and deficit.

    Shadow Defence Minister Senator David Johnston said Labor had broken a significant election promise made just nine months ago because it was now clear there is no money for the 12 locally built new submarines – the flagship of the 2009 White Paper.

    “Labor had not only guaranteed an average of three per cent real growth to Defence’s budget, but they introduced a Strategic Reform Program that would generate $20 billion worth of savings that were also guaranteed to be reinvested in Defence to deliver a stronger, more agile and harder-hitting defence force,” Senator Johnston said.

    “Instead this Government will leave us with a crippled navy unable to respond to emergencies like Cyclone Yasi and a local defence industry in danger of becoming extinct, taking Australian jobs along with it,” Senator Johnston said.

    The 2009 Strategic Reform Program promised to “fundamentally improve the supporting ‘backbone’ of Defence, making the organisation more efficient and effective, and creating significant savings to reinvest in building a stronger Defence Force. These savings and reinvestments are essential to ensure the capability goals set out in the White Paper are delivered.”

    Senator Johnston said he suspected successive Labor Defence Ministers have been missing in action at the Cabinet table and were unable to petition strongly enough for their portfolio.

    “As a result the money to replace the ailing Collins Class submarines, the retired F-111’s and the corrosion riddled amphibious ships is quickly evaporating as Labor views Defence as an easy target to pay off their massive deficit,” Senator Johnston said.

    “After last night’s Budget.Everything Labor promises for Defence must now be viewed with extreme scepticism.”
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