Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Henderson for her question and for her fearless pursuit of defence industry and jobs in her state. This government is investing more than $200 billion to deliver a more potent, agile and capable ADF. The investment will ensure that we maintain our capability edge and are prepared for a more contested geostrategic environment in the Indo-Pacific. This reinvestment is vital after years of cuts, delays and indecision under Labor, which included cutting defence funding to 1.56 per cent of GDP, the lowest level since 1938.

The Morrison government is getting on with the job of making considered investment choices based on capability requirements and emerging threats, as well as building a strong sovereign industrial base and creating jobs right across Australia. This financial year alone we have invested $8.2 billion in crucial capabilities. We are moving ahead on the $90 billion naval shipbuilding plan. We are already building 57 naval vessels in Australia, by Australian workers with Australian steel. Over $5 billion of investment in Army's next generation logistic vehicle fleet has achieved initial operating capability and is ready for training and major exercises. In fact, the fleet did an extraordinary job for our nation on Operation Bushfire Assist. Under our $18 billion commitment to deliver the next generation of air strike capability, we welcomed another seven F-35s to Australia in December last year, bringing the total here in Australia to 13. The Morrison government is ensuring that the men and women of the Australian Defence Force have the equipment and capability they need to fight and win.