Rowan Holzberger (Forde, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister. How will the Albanese Labor government's record investment in the Australian Defence Force improve defence capability? How does this compare to other approaches?

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

I thank the member for his question. He is such a fantastic advocate for defence industry within his region.

Ghost Bat is the world's leading collaborative combat aircraft, which is being developed by the Air Force and Boeing Australia. Last year, in testing at Woomera, a Ghost Bat successfully fired an air-to-air missile, hitting its target. That gained global attention because it is literally years ahead of any comparable platform which is being developed by our friends and allies. Ghost Shark, which is being developed by the Navy and Anduril, is the world's longest-range large underwater-capable autonomous platform, and there are Ghost Sharks which are in the hands of the Navy right now. Ghost Bat is a $1.4 billion program, and Ghost Shark is a $1.7 billion program. Together, they are part of the $12 billion to $15 billion which we provided to autonomous systems and drones for the Defence Force in the budget on Tuesday night.

A decade ago, it was really clear that drones would become increasingly important, yet when the Liberals were in government the most significant step that they took in respect of autonomous platforms was to cut the $1.3 billion SkyGuardian program. They took us backwards, not forwards, because, when they were in government, they definitely did not have their hands on the defence wheel. But how could they have when they cycled six—really seven—different defence ministers through the portfolio in just nine years? And, in the last four years, they've cycled another three.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Herbert is now warned.

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

When you churn defence ministers like the Liberals do, you cannot provide strategic direction. We have been able to provide increased spending on drones because, since coming to office, the Albanese government has significantly increased defence spending on four separate occasions, including on Tuesday night, such that there is now $117 billion extra in the defence budget over the next 10 years relative to what we inherited. When the Liberals were in government, they increased defence spending just once.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Manager of Opposition Business, on a point of order.

Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Standing order 75, tedious repetition.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The manager is testing my patience. He's now warned. There's nothing to be funny about.

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

They're going to hear it a lot more, because they effectively increased defence spending by just $10 billion. So, in nine years, they did $10 billion; and, in just four years, we've done $117 billion. That's the comparison, which is why it is the Albanese Labor government which is keeping Australians safe.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Before I call the member for Lindsay, the member for Herbert was warned during the question. He continued to interject. I didn't want to interrupt the minister. He will now leave the chamber under 94(a).

The member for Herbert then left the chamber.