David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

without a word of acknowledgement or contrition. This is what we inherited. Can I say that of course the $16 billion that was ripped from the Defence portfolio was relevant to a whole host of areas. Not the least was force protection. There are 42 programs that had to be deferred by Defence. Many of those were relevant to our men and women on the front line. Labor was prepared to take money out—

Opposition senators interjecting—