Matt Burnell (Spence, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence. How is the Albanese government delivering historic investment in our defence force?

Richard Marles (Corio, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for his question and acknowledge his service in the Australian Army. Four weeks ago, the government released the National defence strategy 2026 and the accompanying update of the Integrated investment program, Defence's 10-year procurement plan. In 2023 the Defence Strategic Review recommended doing away with the old system of intermittent, haphazard defence white papers, replacing it with a consistent two-yearly drumbeat of updated strategy and procurement. NDS '26 is the second iteration of this. As a result, the Defence Force now operates against contemporary strategy and refreshed procurement plans.

NDS '26 observed that over the last two years the world has become a much more difficult place, and I think we can all see that—not just in the war in the Middle East and in ongoing conflict in Ukraine and other parts of the world but in continued great power contests, China's continued massive military build-up and the global rules based order being placed under acute pressure. As a result, NDS '26 provided for yet another significant major increase in the Defence spend—$14½ billion over the forward estimates, $53 billion over the decade—and this will be reflected in tonight's budget.

What that means is that, since coming to office, the Albanese government has increased Defence spending over the next four years by $30 billion relative to what we inherited and $117 billion over the decade. Two years ago we reprioritised $70 billion of Defence spending. This time we reprioritised just $10 billion. And I think that reflects a continuity since 2023 in the type of defence force which we are seeking to build, one that can fundamentally project. But what has changed over the last two years is the rise of autonomous systems, the rise of drones. So NDS has a provision of $12 billion to $15 billion over the next decade to ensure that we are investing in this critical capability, such that it is, at the heart of our modern defence force. NDS '26 is another step that the Albanese government has taken in building up a much more capable defence force which, in a troubled world, can keep Australia safe.