Peter Lindsay (Herbert, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

There were five, yes. They were not in Townsville or in Darwin. The Prime Minister also stood up and promised $33 million for family medical centres for defence. What was in the budget? Twelve million dollars. How can you stand up in the parliament and move this motion tonight in all sensitivity? I am sure this embarrasses you somewhat. But, unfortunately, there is more.

Look at what the budget has done to defence. Labor’s first budget was not what it appeared to be on the surface. There have been significant cuts in the Defence Support Group. You talk to the Defence Support Group people across Australia and you will find what they have had to do to their budget—reduce services to the men and women of the Australian Defence Force. Have a look at what has been lost in the Defence Science and Technology Organisation and even in front-line strategic planning areas. The defence budget cuts, shaves, delays and reorders programs. Labor’s funding for defence has dropped from two per cent to 1.8 per cent of GDP, and the ALP defence budget this year is $966 million less than the previous provision under the Howard government. You should be squirming—$966 million less than what we had provided for this year in the forward estimates. Member for Leichhardt, I am going to continue to hold the Labor government accountable so that the men and women of our Australian Defence Force have the best resources available.

You talk about helping ordinary Australians. I call them everyday Australians. I see what has happened with petrol, groceries, private health insurance and home interest rates. In fact, with the policy that you have in relation to the Medicare levy we are going to see hundreds of thousands drop out of private health insurance. Do you know what that is going to do? All of the pensioners in your electorate who scrimp and save to keep their private health insurance will not be able to do it anymore and they will be back on the public waiting list and the public waiting list will get longer. It is a terrible outcome. Perhaps you might like to join me and we will battle this terrible outcome because, as North Queenslanders, we should be able to do that. And we will get even more funding for roads in the next year’s budget. We will do it together. I certainly do not agree with the sentiments expressed in this motion. (Time expired)

See this speech in context