Defence loses again after Labor reshuffle

12/12/11

Labor’s faceless men have ensured Labor’s tradition of trashing the Defence portfolio continues after one of the Gillard Government’s most underperforming Ministers, Senator Kim Carr, was appointed the Minister for Defence Materiel.

Shadow Minister for Defence Science, Technology and Personnel, Stuart Robert said the Labor Government’s latest reshuffle only further demonstrated its lack of interest in Defence and Australia’s national security.

“In the past four years we’ve had three Defence Ministers as Labor simply does not regard this portfolio as a priority. The Prime Minister is watering down the importance of national security so she can bolster her own security in the Lodge,” Mr Robert said.

Mr Robert also said the reshuffle would likely lead to further job losses in Australia’s defence industry sector.

“To install Labor’s worst performing minister in such a critical portfolio, and at a time when local defence industry is contracting, will only lead to further job losses and further loss of confidence within the sector,” Mr Robert said.

Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Materiel, Senator Gary Humphries said he had little faith in the Minister’s ability to understand, let alone reform such a complex portfolio.

“A minister who has been demoted because of his weak performance in his previous portfolio now has to get his head around nine highly complex Projects of Concern, almost 200 other major projects and make decisions on new acquisitions all during a time of supposed deep reform. I simply don’t see that happening,” Senator Humphries said.

Only the Coalition understands the importance of our nation’s security and only the Coalition can guarantee that it is given the Ministerial oversight that is vitally needed following Labor’s disinterest in this critical portfolio.