Senate debates Questions without Notice

Defence


Jessica Collins

Jessica Collins NSW, Liberal Party

2:00 pm

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Penny Wong. As I joined Australian diggers conducting Exercise Talisman Sabre this month, the Netherlands joined a growing list of countries calling on Australia to increase our defence spending. But, as I said last night, if Australia's political leadership were completely honest with the Australian people, the case for increasing defence spending would be a no-brainer. In 2022, the Albanese government said it would set targets on raising defence spending as a proportion of GDP. The government has since backflipped on this commitment. Minister, why was an increased GDP target a good idea in 2022 but a bad idea now, given that global challenges have only worsened?

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