Defence Minister Richard Marles has called for a cultural shift in Australia's defence spending, insisting that recent increases were driven by national need rather than external pressure. Speaking at the National Press Club, Marles announced an additional $14 billion over the forward estimates and $53 billion over the next decade, totaling $117 billion more than the former Coalition government's plans over 10 years.
Marles refuted claims that the spending boost was a response to demands from US President Donald Trump, who had urged Australia to lift defence spending to 3.5% of GDP. Instead, Marles framed the increases as based on strategic requirements, not arbitrary targets. He measured total defence spending in NATO terms, projecting Australia would exceed 3% of GDP by 2033.
The defence strategy includes $5 billion in reprioritisations, such as scrapping 10 Spartan C-27J transport planes. However, analysts note that comparing Australian and NATO spending figures is complex due to different accounting methods. For instance, NATO rules count costs when a ship is built, while Australia spreads them over the asset's lifetime.
On the AUKUS nuclear submarine program, Marles argued the total cost is best understood as about 0.15% of GDP over the project's life. He denied significant cost increases, though spending on AUKUS over the next decade has risen from $53-63 billion to $71-96 billion, attributed to infrastructure progress at the Osborne shipyard and Henderson base.
Marles defended the government's approach against critics, insisting that decisions were not influenced by thinktanks, retired generals, or 'washed-up bureaucrats.' He emphasized that the strategy aims to provide transparency and accountability, though some commentators question the clarity of the figures presented.
