Defence Portfolio
Ms SWANSON (Paterson) (18:15): I rise to speak on the appropriation bill, what this budget means for Australia's defence capability—and I'm pleased to be joined by the Minister for Defence Industry and my other defence colleagues this evening—and what it means not only for the Hunter region but for the thousands of defence personnel, veterans and defence industry workers who call my electorate home.
When we discuss defence spending in this place, we are talking about much more than figures on a page or equipment needed to defend a country; we're talking about men and women who serve our nation, the families who support them and the communities who help deliver the capabilities Australia needs to remain safe and secure in an increasingly uncertain world.
Our people are our most sophisticated and valuable capability. Unlike the member for Herbert, who most disingenuously just said in this place that we are 'not fit to fight'—I absolutely disagree with this sentiment. I say we have never been recruiting better and we are retaining more people in our great Australian Defence Force.
They are most certainly fit to fight and defend their nation, as they do most professionally. In my electorate, that story begins at RAAF Base Williamtown. Williamtown is one of Australia's most significant defence bases and is home to around 3,500 defence personnel.
It is a critical capability, it is a hub for Australian defence, it is the premier F-35 base and it is also the proud home of Australia's E-7A Wedgetail, which is an aircraft that has earned an international reputation for excellence and demonstrated its value in operations both at home and abroad. Today, around 85 Australian Defence Force personnel are serving in the United Arab Emirates on that Wedgetail aircraft deployed to the region.
Those personnel represent the very best of Australia. Their service reminds us that defence capability is ultimately about people, dedicated Australians, prepared to serve their country wherever and whenever they are called upon. And, while we recognise those serving overseas and around the country, we also recognise the partners, the children and the families here at home who carry their own burden of service and sacrifice while they wait for their loved ones to return safely.
I give a big shout-out to all the kids at Wirreanda. It is the place across Australia where we have the most defence children at a public primary school. Australia's security can no longer be taken for granted.
Strategic competition in our region is increasing, global instability continues to create uncertainty and nations around the world are investing heavily in their defence capabilities. That is why this budget continues the government's commitment to ensuring Australia has the capabilities, workforce and industrial capacity needed to protect our national interest now and into the future.
The government's National Defence Strategy provides a clear plan to ensure Australian defence is equipped, trained and supported to deter, protect Australia's interests and respond when required. In recognition of these challenges, our government is providing an additional $14 billion over the next four years and an additional $53 billion over the decade through defence funding, estate modernisation and other investments.
Since coming to office, the Albanese government has increased defence spending by $30 billion over the forward estimates and around $117 billion over the decade. These are substantial investments because Australia faces a more complex security environment than at any other time in recent decades. But these investments are not only about defence capability; they are about jobs, they're about industry, they are about our own sovereignty and they are about economic opportunity in communities like mine and further afield.
One of the most significant examples of this is taking shape right now at Newcastle Airport. The Newcastle Airport defence and aerospace precinct is rapidly becoming one of Australia's most important centres for sovereign defence manufacturing. The Albanese government has committed up to $850 million in partnership with Kongsberg Australia to manufacture and sustain naval strike missiles and joint strike missiles in the Hunter.
Construction of the new facility is well advanced and nearing completion. This project is exactly what a future made in Australia looks like. It means advanced manufacturing jobs in our regions, Australian workers building critical defence capability here at home and a stronger, more self-reliant Australia.