Jessica Collins (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

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?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

First can I acknowledge the first question from Senator Collins and congratulate her on her first speech yesterday. Can I say to her—she would be aware, I would assume—that we have increased defence spending over the forward estimates and over the decade: an additional $10.6 billion over the forwards, and $56.7 billion over the decade.

As the Prime Minister has made clear, we fund capability. We are very conscious that the first responsibility of a government is to ensure we keep our people safe and keep our nation safe. Critical to that—and central to that—is ensuring Defence has the capability required to deal with these uncertain times. That is why we have increased defence funding to record levels—the biggest peacetime increase in Australia's history.

I would also make the point—and the senator was not part of the government which delivered this—that what we saw under the previous government was a lot of press releases but very little capability. In fact, some 28 projects were running nearly a century behind schedule; the cumulative slippage in capability acquisition under the previous government was 97 years.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order!

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The senator is one of those who does understand the strategic circumstances Australia faces. She would also understand, given her deep knowledge of the Pacific, the importance of all arms of national power—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Henderson, I've called the chamber to order!

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

being directed to Australia's national security. Defence is first amongst those, but there's also diplomacy and economic engagement, and she described it as a form of integration with the—

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

She?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Sorry, the Senator described it as a form of integration— (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Collins, first supplementary?

Jessica Collins (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It takes an appreciation of the Australian Defence Force to understand the pressures our men and women in uniform face and the sacrifices they make for our country. Minister, is it correct that the Prime Minister has never attended and participated in an Australian military exercise?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Seriously?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's a disappointing question from a senator who I think actually has—

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If you don't like it—

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, it is—from a senator who I think does have an appreciation of the importance of the role of the ADF—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Order! Senator Watt, I've called order!

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's disappointing, because I held her in regard. What I would say—through you, President—to the Senator, is that the Prime Minister absolutely understands what the men and women of the ADF do for our country. I think she may have been, amongst others, at the ceremony at the War Memorial where the Prime Minister, as always, spoke. He spoke about the importance of service and the debt of gratitude all of us owe all those who serve. I would also say that I had the privilege over the weekend of standing with service women from three countries, three services— (Time expired)

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Collins, second supplementary?

Jessica Collins (NSW, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

While the Prime Minister spent six days in China visiting tourist sites to pay homage to past Labor leaders, he missed our biggest and most significant joint military exercise. Why didn't the Prime Minister visit our troops at Talisman Sabre when he did make time to visit People's Liberation Army officers in China? Why does the Prime Minister think national security, defence and meeting our allies is somebody else's job?

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

First, in relation to Talisman Sabre, senators may have seen that we had a UK led carrier strike group with the largest warship in the British navy, which the defence minister and I visited with our counterparts. What I was saying when I was speaking earlier was that I had the privilege of speaking with the men and women of three countries and three services who were participating in Talisman Sabre—

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

She's not asking about you; it's got nothing to do with you.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Ruston, maybe you could show them some respect. That matters. President, through you: to Senator Collins, she would understand that China is a great power in our region and we need to engage. That is not to diminish any other relationship. We know who our strategic partner is; it is the United States. But I think those opposite have not learned from the Dutton era, have they? (Time expired)