In a bold declaration, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has promised to reinvigorate Australia’s national security, accusing the Albanese Government of stripping more than $80 billion from Defence over the past three years and leaving the country vulnerable.
“A Labor-Greens government is a risk we can’t afford — especially when our national security is on the line,” Dutton warned.
“We’ll boost Defence spending to 2.5% of GDP within five years — and reach 3% within a decade. That’s real investment in our security.”
Positioning himself as a steady hand in turbulent times, Dutton argued that Australia is facing its most serious strategic environment since the Second World War, with increasing instability in the Indo-Pacific and emerging grey-zone threats such as foreign interference and cyberattacks.
To address these challenges, the Coalition has pledged to deliver a comprehensive National Security Strategy if elected. This long-overdue plan would unify Australia’s security architecture under a single vision and set the course for responding to current and future threats.
“It has been more than a decade since Australia had a National Security Strategy, and the world looks very different today than it did back then,” Dutton said.
“Our Strategy will serve as a roadmap to guide the difficult decisions we must make to protect Australia’s interests in the years ahead.”
The strategy would articulate:
- An overarching vision for Australia’s security;
- Core national security objectives;
- Key risks and threats facing the country;
- A global threat assessment; and
- Australia’s national security priorities.
Shadow Minister for Home Affairs, Senator James Paterson, echoed Dutton’s concerns, stating:
“The Government’s most important duty is to keep Australians safe. In an increasingly uncertain world, we must fiercely protect our values and interests.”
The proposed plan also pays tribute to the legacy of the late Senator Jim Molan AO DSC, who in 2018 called for a unified and comprehensive national security strategy.
As strategic tensions rise and the international order becomes more volatile, the Coalition argues that only strong, decisive leadership can secure Australia’s future. “We need a sober assessment of the principal threats,” Dutton concluded.
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