Phillip Thompson (Herbert, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Defence. Will the minister inform the House on the Australian Defence Force's contribution to regional security in the Indo-Pacific?

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for his question. He was talking to me over the weekend about the troops who were deployed from Townsville to the Solomon Islands. I know that, like everyone in this House, he wishes them a safe trip. The work they're doing in the Solomon Islands obviously augments the work the Minister for Home Affairs has just commented on with regard to the Australian Federal Police. It provides a security overlay, and it provides the ability to airlift and for people to be safely transported on some of the roads in and out of Honiara.

As you'd be aware, Mr Speaker, the ADF personnel have come from 3, 17 and 6 brigades and from 4 Squadron RAAF, and they have provided support, including air combat controllers, the RE combat team and further supporting elements. I say thank you to all of those personnel. It's a very significant effort that they're making. It follows a request from our near neighbours in the Solomon Islands, and it says very clearly that Australia will always be there in the Indo-Pacific, standing by our partners, our friends and our family in this part of the world to help them, particularly in their hour of need, and to make sure that we can see peace prevail in our region.

The RAAF responded very quickly last week. We are able to deploy rapidly to incidents like this, whether it be for a humanitarian disaster or civil disorder or under the bilateral security treaty that Australia has with the Solomon Islands, through which we are able to provide them with assistance. The reason we can do that so rapidly, and the reason that we are resourced so well within the Australian Defence Force, is that we've put significant additional funds into the ADF. What would make that very difficult, as we know from what Labor did in their period in government, would be reducing the amount of money into the Australian Defence Force. They reduced it to 1.5 per cent of GDP. The fact is that it's now up over two per cent.

Richard Marles (Corio, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A point of order, Mr Speaker. There's a certain dignity that this answer should have, but there's also a question of relevance. No alternative proposition was asked for in the question.

Andrew Wallace (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is correct. There was no reference to alternative approaches or policies. The minister will be relevant to the question.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I'll tell you why it's essential to have strong leadership and to invest in the Australian Defence Force, which is exactly what this Prime Minister has done. We've done that because we wanted to restore the disaster that we inherited from the Labor Party. We've been able to respond to this incident and to many more because we have put the money not just into the acquisition of the equipment that the ADF needs but also into the recruitment and training of ADF personnel.

Richard Marles (Corio, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This point of order, Mr Speaker, is on the ground that this is utter rubbish. They're the ones who stuffed the subs. They're the ones who've opened up the capability gap. This is the worst national security government in our—

Andrew Wallace (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The deputy opposition leader will resume his seat. I've asked the minister to remain relevant to the question, based on my previous ruling. The minister has the call.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The fact is that this government has invested and will continue to invest record amounts into the Australian Defence Force—

because we are not weak on national security. We are strong on national security. We demonstrate that through our actions. The Labor Party, through their weakness, condemn their own actions. (Time expired).

Andrew Wallace (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Moreton is warned.