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

Given the length and breadth of the mess we are dealing with, can I tell you, we have to keep working at trying to resolve the fiscal position, Senator, which your party bequeathed to us. As announced by the Prime Minister this morning, the government has notified the independent Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal that the changes to allowances are not supported by the government and that they should be discontinued. This results, firstly, from the fact that we have an ongoing good and close relationship with Defence Force personnel. That is something that those over there could never conceive to say because when they were in power all they did was bludgeon them and rip money out of the Defence Force budget.

After a long period of discussion with Defence Force personnel, we have resolved to look at mitigating the effects of what has been left to us by the former Labor government. Let me reiterate: the government has been talking to and listening to Defence Force personnel, particularly the lower and middle ranks, and has come to this equitable resolution.