Defence
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7th September, 2013 Labor relentlessly wound back the defence budget. Despite promises to increase defence spending, the defence budget had declined to the lowest percentage of GDP since 1937 by the time Labor left office. Labor announced $230 billion of defence spending but admitted it had only funded $30 billion. Defence assets were allowed to deteriorate, much of the navy was unseaworthy and uniformed personnel, reserve forces and cadets all suffered cuts. |
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31st May, 2013 Australian Strategic Policy Institute says Australia faces a funding shortfall of $33 billlion over the next decade to meet its new hardware purchase costs (Canberra Times) |
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27th May, 2013 1,100 jobs will be lost at Williamstown naval shipyard by the end of 2014 unless new naval projects are fast tracked (The Australian) |
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14th May, 2013 2013 BUDGET • Defence spending of $25.4 billion, 1.6 per cent of GDP • 1,000 civilian jobs cut • $25 million more for veterans mental health support |
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3rd May, 2013 Government releases another Defence White Paper (last time in 2009) announcing the purchase of 12 Super Hornet Growlers, 12 new submarines to be built in Adelaide, new patrol boats and supply ships - but no new money to fund them |
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13th February, 2013 Chief of Army admits that the decision to cancel self propelled howitzer contract with Samsung in in last budget reduces the cost this financial year but will be more expensive in the longer term (Senate Estimates) |
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22nd January, 2013 Despite 2009 White Paper commitment to increase defence expenditure by 3% in real terms each year to 2017-18, Labor has slashed defence expenditure by $25 billion - including $7.6 billion in 2012-13. Defence spending will fall to just 1.56% of GDP - the lowest figure since 1939 (Financial Review) |
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17th October, 2012 Defence Department confirms that $200 billion of the $230 billion required to buy the capabilities outlined in the Government's Defence White Paper is unfunded (Senate Estimates) |
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30th July, 2012 $205 counter terrorism security systems at 16 military bases have been delayed for three years because of environmental issues including flying foxes and box gums. The new systems announced following the 2009 Islamic extremists shooting plot will now not be completed until 2015 (The Australian) |
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15th December, 2011 Coles Review of Australia's Collins class submarine fleet concludes the entire submarine organisation is 'unfit for purpose' because of inexperienced crews, poor reliability and dysfunctional maintenance (The Australian) |
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10th June, 2011 Not a single Australian submarine is seaworthy and fit for service (The Australian) |
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26th May, 2011 $5 million to be spent on inquiry into the treatment of women in Defence Forces (The Australian) |
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10th May, 2011 1,497 more public servants in Department of Defence including 960 bureaucrats 21,331 civilian employees now in Defence, rising to 22,394 in 2012-13 (including DMO) $2.7 billion cut from defence capital expenditure over next four years (Minister’s press release 10-5-11) contrasting with previous Coalition Government’s commitment to 3% average real growth to 2017-18 |
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3rd February, 2011 Federal Labor Government unable to provide naval hospital support in cyclone Yasi crisis because of the unseaworthiness of the Manoora and Kanimbla |
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2nd February, 2011 Federal Labor Government to scrap HMAS Manoora and Kanimbla, 8,500 tonne amphibious transport vessels because they are unseaworthy leaving Australia without a capacity to provide naval support for overseas operations. The rust bucket vessels were purchased from the US by the Keating Government and have cost tens of millions of dollars of expenditure to keep the rust at bay Government also scraps 6 trouble plagued landing craft too big to fit on the Manoora and Kanimbla |
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15th January, 2011 At least $1.1 billion of Defence's $5.4 billion re-equipment budget will not be spent in 2010-11 (The Australian) |
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15th January, 2011 New Zealand offers its supply ship HMAS Canterbury, to service the Australian Navy whose 3 supply ships are out of action (The Australian) |
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10th January, 2011 Australia's six Collins class submarines spent between 5 and 12 months of the year to June 10 in dock undergoing repairs. They were available for only 32% of the year. Eight of Australia's 12 frigates are running on "lower levels of operational readiness" because of "crewing gaps" |
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1st December, 2010 Major defence acquisition projects are an average 3 years behind schedule and 24% above budget according to ANAO report (Financial Review) |
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27th October, 2010 Budget cuts force Australian War Memorial to lay off 38 staff |
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26th October, 2010 Government $8 billion plan to build 3 air warfare destroyers in Australia in disarray following botched construction of the first central keel block. The vital component is out of shape and not compatible with other parts built in other cities |
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20th September, 2010 Australian soldier says death of colleague during Battle of Derepet on 24-8-2010 in Afghanistan was due to lack of support on the frontline |
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24th June, 2010 Kevin Rudd deposed as Prime Minister and replaced by Ms Julia Gillard |
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21st May, 2010 Rudd Government abandons plans to fit anti-submarine torpedos to patrol aircraft and navy helicopters |
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11th May, 2010 BUDGET 2010-11 Budget slashes $1.6 billion from defence equipment purchases Budget provides 1470 extra civilian employees for Department of Defence but a 500 reduction in number of uniformed staff Defence High Readiness Reserve slashed from 2460 personnel under the Coalition Government to 1500 in Rudd's 2010-11 Budget |
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9th April, 2010 Labor slashes funding for Army Reserve training to 25 days per soldier - half the number considered necessary to provide basic skills Morale among 25,000 strong reserves said to be near collapse |
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2nd February, 2010 Labor plans to buy inferior Chinese made uniforms for Defence personnel |
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22nd January, 2010 $7 billion of defence purchases deferred in new larger purchasing plan (Fin Review) |
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14th January, 2010 Defence recruiting plunged over the past year despite rising unemployment |
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4th June, 2009 Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon resigns following allegations of irregular campaign contributions from Chinese associates |
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27th February, 2009 Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon fails to fix up the SAS pay bungle, despite promising in October 2008 that it would be fixed |
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30th May, 2008 Labor's funding cuts to the AFP could cut hospital and other services to AFP officers serving in world trouble spots including East Timor and the Solomon Islands |
