Stuart Robert (Fadden, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Canberra for her question. Seriously, it is a bit rich being lectured on this by the member for Canberra. We know that Labor cut and planned by stealth to cut 14,500 jobs. We know that—the numbers are clear. It was clearly demonstrated on the floor of the House—a cut by 14,500. I did not hear the member for Canberra out there clanging the bells when Labor was looking at cutting that. We did not see the member for Canberra on the barricades. Did anyone? Never. Labor cut 2,800 jobs in Defence alone. Did you get a splinter on the barricades, Member for Canberra, when you stood there standing up with your constituents?

A government member: Just silence. She was like Marcel Marceau.

I say the same thing to you that I say to the member for Batman, 'Silence is acquiescence'. You cannot be silent when your previous government cut 14,500 jobs. And now you are coming out loud and clear now that we are actually sticking by our election commitments in terms of further reductions.

In 2011-12, 1,000 APS were cut from the Defence budget. Member for Canberra, what was your statement in 2011-12?

Opposition members interjecting—

Yes, that's right—silence. Another 1,000 APS Defence jobs were cut in the 2012-13 budget. Member for Canberra, what were your public statements then? Silence? That's right. In the 2013-14 budget, another 800 public servants were cut. Member for Canberra, what were your public statements then? Oh that's right—silence. Over three years, the loud roar of silence was absolutely deafening! And Senator Conroy, accusing us of cutting 2,000 ADF personnel. If he had only read Budget Paper No.2—and I would refer the member for Canberra to that budget paper—he would note that there are only 1,200 APS reductions. And unlike Labor, we are fully reinvesting those funds in Defence.

The numbers in the Defence budget statements take into account measures already imposed by the previous Labor government.

Ms Brodtmann interjecting—

We are simply banking your cuts—we are on the Labor government's cuts. As of 22 May, there were 20,137 full-time; a reduction of 843. In 2014-15 there will be a further reduction of 600 from 20,300 full-time employees at the end of 2013-14, to a target of 19,700 full-time; and Defence is forecast to be 18,105 full-time. These reductions are made possible by continuing reforms to our business practice; in particular, the wider application of shared services. Reform within Defence is being implemented to ensure there are no reductions in critical service standards or capability, especially to defence members deployed on operations.

We are being up-front in our responsible reductions, as opposed to the 2,800 that were cut from Defence and on which your silence was deafening, member for Canberra, member for Batman and member for Richmond, who has just come in—my near neighbour. The silence was deafening.

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