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Highlights
- National security has become a dominant subject of discussions during the campaign for the Australian polls ahead.
- Prime Minister Scott Morrison-led government has announced a record investment in national security as part of the 2022-23 budget.
- Morrison believes that some major investments will boost the country’s defence budget above 2% of GDP.
- Over a period of next 10 years, the government will invest AU$9.9 billion in building new national cyber and intelligence capabilities.
The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and other escalating global tensions highlight why every country needs to shore up its defence strategies and fuel national security wings. The subject has become even more significant in Australia as national elections are just round the corner.
Recent speeches and remarks by top leaders from the government have dropped in clear hints about how keen the coalition is to make national security the dominant talking point during its election campaign. The loudest callout has been made by the Morrison Government through its 2022-23 Budget, which includes record investment in national security.
Do read: Disinformation Register: Debunking mistruths about 2022 Australian federal election
Defence: A major theme in Morrison Govt’s pitch to voters
In a recent release, Prime Minister Scott Morrison stated, “In these uncertain times, it is vital that Australia is well positioned to tackle the challenges our country and our region face. This Budget sets out the investments we’re making that will boost the Defence budget above 2 per cent of GDP not only helping keep Australians safe but supporting local jobs and industries right here at home.”
Image source: © motortion | Megapixl.com
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Below are the key points from the Morrison Govt’s Budget 2022-23, relating to national security:
In the next 10 years, an amount of AU$9.9 billion will be invested in new national cyber and intelligence capabilities. The Government will also inject an additional amount of AU$74.7 million into Operation RESOLUTE during 2022-23, which is designed to protect the country’s maritime interests.
Moreover, a 20-year investment estimated at more than AU$10 billion is planned for shipbuilding infrastructure, entailing a new submarine base, on the country’s east coast.
The Government will also upgrade and extend in-service support for the Hawk 127 Lead-In Fighter Training System, which will result in AU$1.5 billion investment in the Air Force’s future aviation capability.
An additional investment of AU$104.2 million will be made in 2022-23 for Operation ACCORDION, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) overarching support mission, to advance operations and activities in the Middle East.
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There are various other areas that will see significant investment, including workforce, highly advanced equipment and veteran support.
The Morrison government has announced a significant increase in the country’s defence budget. Defence and national security seem to be one area where the government wants its voters to focus. As the election campaigns have kicked off, we are all set to hear a lot more on the government’s stance on national security.
