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

I know what I do on that day to day basis in this portfolio. If that is incidental, that might be something someone wants to call it, but I am firstly dealing with repairing the budgetary mess you left. This is a very big task. I know the senator would not want to hear that, as I have said, the former Chief of Army said that funding cuts under Labor would risk soldiers' lives. Former Chief of Army Peter Leahy said:

The Gillard government has cut so much money out of defence that it risks placing the lives of soldiers, sailors and airmen in danger.

These are the sorts of things I am dealing with today. He went on to say, talking about Minister Smith:

The minister owes them more than a simple statement of 'do the same but with less'.