Phillip Thompson (Herbert, Liberal National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Defence) | Link to this | Hansard source

Townsville is this nation's Army capital. We're the largest garrison city with a robust defence presence, and we wear that title with pride. Lots of ADF members and their families have been posted to Townsville over the Christmas period, and it was great to meet so many of them at the ADF families 'Welcome to Townsville' event. I have no doubt they will make a significant contribution to both our defence capability and the Townsville community during their time in our great city.

But, when it comes to defence capability, our Defence Force is only as strong as its weakest leader. The Minister for Defence continues to prove his incompetence in his portfolio. This week alone, the minister has thrown our soldiers, our sailors and our aviators under the bus with his comment:

… there is a way to go before we have that culture of excellence in the Department of Defence and the Australian Defence Force.

The front page of the Townsville Bulletin on 13 February says, 'Australian troops thin on ground', with the article highlighting that personnel numbers are at critical lows. If members of the ADF don't think the minister is up to the job—and the numbers certainly back up their position—surely, he, too, can recognise that this portfolio isn't for him. I call on the Prime Minister to move him on so someone more focused can lead our ADF.