Stuart Robert (Fadden, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence Science, Technology and Personnel) Share this | Hansard source

Minister, thank you for the update in terms of mental health and wellbeing of our service personnel for which you enjoy the coalition's strongest and widest bipartisan support. Can I just move back on to the rural budget since these are a form of budget estimates, albeit in the House? Minister, I think we have ascertained that the $2.77 billion is to be absorbed. I think we have ascertained that the government does not know where that is coming from and your comments as to the details will be advised. I think that says it all.

We will all just wait and see. Somehow, Minister, I think you and I could put $5 down that you would not advise prior to parliament being prorogued but we will wait and see. Apart from the $2.77 billion being absorbed, it is my melancholy duty to inform you—and indeed the House—that you have also asked Defence to absorb another $150 million in other costs according to the PBS documents. These include the Defence abuse reparation payments, Operation Resolute costs—that is the cost of the Navy taxi service for asylum seekers—and security for the G20 leader summit. The list goes on.

Without making any comment on what the money is used for—and that is not my intent—I am simply putting out that $150 million worth of costs have to be absorbed again. Minister, can you please outline where these costs will be absorbed—that is, what part of Defence will have to be cut in terms of the budget? Are we are talking about personnel travel? Are we mothballing equipment? Are we pushing some elements of the DCP out? What exactly is being moved, absorbed or cut to make way for this $150 million in a range of areas I have outlined?

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