Joint Media Release
The Morrison Government’s number one priority is keeping Australians safe and secure. The 2019–20 Budget sees continued strong investment in Australia’s national security, with a particular focus on enhancing our regional security, building defence capability and supporting Australia’s sovereign defence industry.
The Budget maintains the Government’s commitment to grow the Defence budget to two per cent of GDP by 2020–21. The Government will allocate Defence $38.7 billion in 2019-20 and $175.8 billion to 2022-23.
REGIONAL AND GLOBAL SECURITY
As our security environment evolves, we are increasing Australia’s commitment to regional and global security to protect our interests at home and abroad.
Australia currently has around 2,300 Defence personnel deployed around the world, including on operations across the Middle East Region and Afghanistan.
Australia will continue to make a meaningful contribution to the US-led international Counter-Daesh coalition in Iraq. For this reason, Australia has around 400 personnel deployed as part of Operation OKRA.
The Government is committed to assisting the Government of Afghanistan to control its security and to make sure the nation never again becoming a safe-haven for terrorist networks. Operation HIGHROAD will continue to provide security, development assistance and capability building for Afghan institutions.
Defence will also continue to support other Government agencies to keep our borders safe and maintain the capability to support Australians affected by flooding, cyclones and other natural disasters.
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) contributes to the whole-of-government effort to protect our borders through Operation RESOLUTE. At any one time, up to 600 personnel at sea, in the air and on the land, are working to protect Australia's borders and offshore maritime interests.
Defence is also playing a crucial part of the Morrison Government’s Pacific step-up. This includes:
Defence will also increase the level of support to Southeast Asian countries including:
DELIVERING THE INTEGRATED INVESTMENT PROGRAM
The Government is increasing investment in advanced Defence capabilities, while boosting Australia’s sovereign defence industry and creating Australian jobs.
Over the next decade to 2028-29, the Government is investing more than $200 billion in Defence capabilities including:
DEFENCE CAPABILITY INVESTMENT
Since the release of the 2018-19 Budget, the Government has committed around
$47.5 billion to new capabilities including:
NAVAL SHIPBUILDING PROGRAM
The Government's $90 billion investment in continuous ship and submarine building is the largest regeneration of the Navy since the Second World War. Fifty-four naval ships will be built in Australia using Australian steel. This commitment will create thousands of jobs for decades to come.
Development of the Osborne North Shipyard in South Australia is continuing in preparation for the construction of the 12 new Attack class submarines.
The $535 million infrastructure redevelopment at Osborne South is on track to be completed in early 2020, in time for the start of Hunter class frigate prototyping. Nine Hunter class frigates will be built at the shipyard.
The first two Arafura class offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) are being built in existing facilities at Osborne South. Twelve OPVs will be built as part of the $3.6 billion investment to protect our borders and replace the existing patrol boat fleet. Ten OPVs will be built at Henderson in Western Australia. This project will also help sustain critical skills in Australia’s naval shipbuilding workforce.
Plans for the upgrade and development of facilities in WA to support the Hunter class frigates and the Arafura class offshore patrol vessels are progressing. Around $1.5 billion dollars will be spent on infrastructure in WA to support our new fleet.
Twenty-one Guardian class patrol boats are being built in WA to help our Pacific neighbours and Timor-Leste. Our $504 million investment will improve the security and prosperity of the region.
SUPPORTING DEFENCE INDUSTRY
The Government is making additional investments in our national sovereign industrial capacity, which will ensure we can respond to changes to Australia’s future security situation. The Government’s actions include:
ENHANCING CYBER SECURITY
The Government continues to invest in the Australian Signals Directorate, including the Australian Cyber Security Centre, to deliver intelligence, cyber security and offensive operations in support of the Australian Government and ADF.
As part of our continued investment to protect Government networks from hostile cyber compromise, and ensure the integrity of the 2019 Federal Election, the Government is investing in the creation of cyber security ‘SPRINT teams’ and a Cyber Security Response Fund.
LOCAL JOBS SUPPORTING THE DEFENCE ESTATE
The Government continues to invest in upgrading and expanding the Defence estate, comprising hundreds of bases, facilities and other sites right across Australia, particularly in regional communities.
The Government has commenced pilots of Local Industry Capability Plans for major Defence infrastructure projects to ensure local industry has the best opportunity to be involved in our unprecedented investment in Defence capability. Pilot projects include:
All of these investments and initiatives continue to ensure that we remain on track to implement the plans as set out in the 2016 Defence White Paper to keep Australia safe and secure, while maximising the involvement of Australian industry in our unprecedented capability investment.
Scott Bolitho (Minister Pyne): 02 6277 7840, pynemedia [at] defence.gov.au (pynemedia@)defence.gov.au
Ella Kenny (Minister Pyne): 02 6277 7840, pynemedia [at] defence.gov.au (pynemedia)@defence.gov.au
Dean Carlson (Minister Reynolds): 0409 569 992
Biography | Media releases | Speeches | Statements | Transcripts