Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

that members opposite cut $16 billion out of defence. As a result of the cuts and the neglect by members opposite, defence spending as a percentage of GDP fell to its lowest level since 1938. I trust this Minister for Defence to deliver us a competent, professional and effective armed force. The extraordinary professionalism and conduct of our armed forces over the last year or so is a tribute to them, but it is also a credit to the Minister for Defence.

It is true that the Minister for Defence engaged in an uncalled-for rhetorical flourish in the Senate yesterday. He said something in the Senate which he should not have said—

Mr Brendan O'Connor interjecting —

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