Shadow Defence Minister Calls for Defence Spending to Reach 3% of GDP to Fund AUKUS, Military Readiness
This piece is freely available to read. Become a paid subscriber today and help keep Mencari News financially afloat so that we can continue to pay our writers for their insight and expertise.
Today’s Article is brought to you by Empower your podcasting vision with a suite of creative solutions at your fingertips.
Shadow Defence Minister Angus Taylor called Tuesday for Australia to increase defence spending to 3% of gross domestic product, saying current funding levels are insufficient to support both the AUKUS security pact and other military requirements as the nation faces its most dangerous strategic environment since World War II.
Taylor said the government’s own Defence Strategic Review demonstrates the need for increased spending but that the administration is failing to fund even the priorities outlined in its own strategic assessment.
“It’s clear from experts like ASPI that we need to get to 3% of GDP on conventional measures if we are to support both AUKUS and everything else the ADF has to do,” Taylor told ABC Afternoon briefing during an interview. “And we have to be in a position where we are prepared for conflict. The purpose is peace, of course, but you only achieve peace through deterrence.”
The shadow minister said the increased funding would support AUKUS infrastructure at Henderson in Western Australia, Osborne and Stirling, as well as address shortfalls in personnel, drone technology, missile systems and sovereign manufacturing capabilities.
“The government’s own defence review strategy has laid out where the money needs to be spent,” Taylor said. “And experts are telling us that is at around 3% of GDP.”
He said AUKUS requires additional spending beyond just submarines, including significant infrastructure investment at multiple locations.
Truth matters. Quality journalism costs.
Your subscription to Mencari directly funds the investigative reporting our democracy needs. For less than a coffee per week, you enable our journalists to uncover stories that powerful interests would rather keep hidden. There is no corporate influence involved. No compromises. Just honest journalism when we need it most.
Not ready to be paid subscribe, but appreciate the newsletter ? Grab us a beer or snag the exclusive ad spot at the top of next week's newsletter.
“Not just the submarines, it’s also the infrastructure to support that,” Taylor said. “At Henderson, in WA, Osborne and Stirling, they need significant investment if they’re to be adequate for what we need.”
Taylor identified multiple underfunded areas beyond AUKUS, including personnel shortages, emerging technologies and equipment maintenance.
“We don’t have the people in the ADF that the government itself is targeting,” he said. “We don’t have the innovative technologies that is very clear are needed in conflict now. For instance, drone technology, which we haven’t been funding to the level we need to. Missile technology.”
The shadow minister emphasized the importance of sovereign manufacturing capability for national security.
“It is very clear if we’re to stand on our own two feet, we also have to have sovereign manufacturing in key areas, and that hasn’t been funded as well,” Taylor said.
He said maintenance of existing equipment represents another area of clear underfunding that has been documented in multiple reports.
“Sustainment of our existing equipment is clearly underfunded,” Taylor said. “ASPI has told us all of this and many other experts as well.”
When asked whether the coalition would pursue joint strike fighters that the government cancelled, Taylor declined to provide specific procurement details.
“We’ll lay out all the details of our plan in advance of the next election,” he said. “I’ve given you an indication of the sorts of areas that we think do need funding. There will be more detail to follow, obviously.”
He would not commit to a timeline for releasing detailed policy proposals but said the starting point remains the government’s own strategic review.
“The starting point is the government’s own Defence Strategic Review, which laid out a lot of these areas, much of which I’m talking about now, very clearly,” Taylor said. “And the real problem is this government is not even funding what its own strategic review told it to fund.”
Taylor’s comments came amid reports that AUKUS has survived the Pentagon’s review of the defence pact, though he said Australia must ensure it fulfills its obligations for the partnership to succeed.
“We certainly want to see the US as part of AUKUS,” Taylor said. “There’s no AUKUS without the US. But we also have to make sure that we’re doing our bit to make AUKUS work effectively.”
On the 20-point peace plan announced by American and Israeli governments for Gaza, Taylor said it represents the best chance for achieving a ceasefire but requires Hamas acceptance.
“I do, but obviously the prerequisite is that Hamas agrees to it,” Taylor said when asked if the plan offers the best opportunity for peace. “Israel has already agreed to it, obviously. And we’ve got other Arab states, critical Arab states like Saudi Arabia and Egypt and Jordan, who are supporting it.”
He criticized the government’s decision to recognize Palestinian statehood before the peace plan was finalized, saying it undermined negotiations.
“I do think it was completely putting the cart before the horse to recognise Palestine before an agreement like this is put in place,” Taylor said.
When asked whether Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s argument that recognition created momentum for the peace plan held merit, Taylor rejected that assessment.
“Absolutely not,” he said. “I mean, it’s been led by the United States that hasn’t recognised Palestine. I mean, that’s an extraordinary claim to make.”
Taylor said premature recognition potentially reduced Hamas’s incentive to accept the peace agreement.
“The problem with recognising Palestine before this goes into place and before we can see it’s working is it’s just provided an incentive for Hamas to not agree to it,” he said.
He said Netanyahu has previously expressed openness to peacekeeping arrangements involving Arab states as a pathway to Israeli-Palestinian coexistence.
“Benjamin Netanyahu has been very clear that some kind of peacekeeping force that includes support from the Arab states, like Saudi Arabia and Egypt and Jordan, was a pathway to peace and to coexistence of Israel and Palestine,” Taylor said. “So he has said that in the past. I’ve heard him say it in interviews.”
The shadow minister said supporters of Hamas should pressure the group to accept the agreement.
“I think it’s important that the supporters of Hamas do everything they can to make sure that Hamas comes to the table and agrees to this, because it is our best chance,” he said. “And I think it’s a big step forward.”
Taylor confirmed he received a charter letter from Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, his sixth such correspondence, and expressed support for the practice.
“I welcome them and I think they’re a good thing and I strongly support that process,” he said.
When pressed about whether the letters served as reminders for shadow ministers to focus on portfolio areas, particularly regarding colleague Andrew Hastie, Taylor declined to comment on individual colleagues.
“I’m not going to get into commentary on colleagues,” Taylor said. “I think if we are to be competitive at the next election and ultimately to win the next election, we need to ensure that we’re working on those policies that matter to Australians.”
He said his focus remains on ensuring appropriate defence funding and military readiness.
“I focus on my portfolio area every day because I want to see appropriate funding of our Defence Force,” Taylor said. “I want to see a plan in place that ensures that we have the readiness and preparedness to deal with the most dangerous strategic environment since the Second World War.”
When asked repeatedly about Hastie’s public commentary on issues including migration, auto manufacturing and fertility rates, Taylor repeatedly deflected, saying multiple policy areas require attention before the next election.
“There’s lots of issues we need to resolve in the lead up to the next election,” he said, citing energy policy as one clear priority area.
Taylor conducted the interview from regional South Australia where he participated in Polypedal, an annual charity cycling event that raised approximately $250,000 for Wandering Warriors, an organization supporting Special Forces veterans transitioning to civilian life.
“Almost a thousand kilometres through regional South Australia, the Clare and Barossa Valleys, and we were raising money for the Wandering Warriors,” Taylor said.
He said Polypedal has raised $7 million since 1998 for various causes, with this year’s event including participation from Special Forces veterans.
“This is support for education out into civilian life, a fantastic cause,” Taylor said.
The shadow minister also briefly addressed reports that China has blocked BHP iron ore shipments, though he deferred to government officials handling the commercial matter.
Taylor said Australians face a government “that is failing them, an economy that is not performing as it should” with inflation and interest rates not reaching desired levels according to Reserve Bank Governor Michelle Bullock.
“So we need good policies and we need to have a shadow cabinet that’s working those through over the coming months and years,” he said.
Sustaining Mencari Requires Your Support
Independent journalism costs money. Help us continue delivering in-depth investigations and unfiltered commentary on the world's real stories. Your financial contribution enables thorough investigative work and thoughtful analysis, all supported by a dedicated community committed to accuracy and transparency.
Subscribe today to unlock our full archive of investigative reporting and fearless analysis. Subscribing to independent media outlets represents more than just information consumption—it embodies a commitment to factual reporting.
As well as knowing you’re keeping Mencari (Australia) alive, you’ll also get:
Get breaking news AS IT HAPPENS - Gain instant access to our real-time coverage and analysis when major stories break, keeping you ahead of the curve
Unlock our COMPLETE content library - Enjoy unlimited access to every newsletter, podcast episode, and exclusive archive—all seamlessly available in your favorite podcast apps.
Join the conversation that matters - Be part of our vibrant community with full commenting privileges on all content, directly supporting The Evening Post (Australia)
Catch up on some of Mencari’s recent stories:
It only takes a minute to help us investigate fearlessly and expose lies and wrongdoing to hold power accountable. Thanks!