Kevin Rudd has rejected criticism of his deeply flawed defence build-up. In fact, he seems unwilling or unable to defend the logic of that disgraceful white paper. Just flicking reporters with an “I’m the PM and you’re not” response.
The BBC points out that the strategic hysteria underpinning the white paper and the crazy buildup are consistent with other aspects of what is emerging as Fortress Australia.
The ABC reports that the forthcoming Budget (May 12) will detail how this wild extravaganza will be paid for. The same report also carries comment from a bevy of top Australian defence experts (Dibb, Lyon, Dupont) questioning the need for the nation’s biggest buildup in 60 years and the capacity to pay for it.
Opposition Leader, Malcolm Turnbull has pointed out that so far we only have the sketchiest of ideas of how all this will be paid for:
This is a massive increase in expenditure, and yet in 140 pages we only have this — 1⅓ pages, back-of-the-envelope calculations on how it is going to be paid for.
Particularly, dubious is the notion that major savings (20 billion) will be found within Defence itself. Most people who know anything about how the Defence Department operates find this simply risible. Rudd, a man who believes that a management review will solve any problem, said yesterday:
What we have done is engaged with Defence in an enormous internal review of Defence procurement systems and also of savings potential within the portfolio.
We therefore are confident that within Defence’s leadership these efficiencies … will be made.
Hugh White a former Deputy Secretary of the Defence Department is also dubious:
To achieve those savings, Defence will have to be driven harder than it has ever been driven before.
There’s a lot of waste and inefficiency in Defence. [The savings] can be done but only by really fundamentally changing the way Defence operates.
The lacklustre, and politically damaged, Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon, already at odds with his Department on a range of issues, is clearly not got the clout for that job.
Meanwhile the Defence industry is wetting itself with excitement:
The chief executive of the Australian Defence Association, Neil James, said the expenditure – up to $300 billion over the next three decades – was not huge.
Mr James said the gloomy budget situation facing the Government and the global economic recession would have no impact on the expenditure.
Most of the major spending in the white paper doesn’t start until 2015 and we’ll be well beyond the global crisis by then.
The chief executive of the Australian Industry Group, Heather Ridout, said defence contractors in Australia would expect the Government to deliver on its commitment that 60 to 70 per cent of new defence expenditure would be met within Australia.
See also the Public Opinion blog for more on reaction to this stunningly stupid policy.
The Lowy Institute Interpreter blog has yet to provide any comment or reaction.
