Delivering a world-class defence force We will rebuild our defence force by stopping Labor’s defence run-down and give our defence force the first-class resources and equipment they need. •We will restore responsible defence spending to 3 per cent real growth per year subject to improvements in the Budget – our aspiration is to restore funding to defence to the same level as it was under the last seven years of the Howard Government •We will reinvest any responsible savings that can be found in the defence bureaucracy in greater military capacity. •We will immediately start the process of acquiring a number of new state-of-the-art unmanned aircraft. •Within 18 months, we will publish a new defence White Paper with costed, affordable ways to meet Australia’s important defence and national security objectives. •We will ensure that Australia does not have a submarine capability gap. Within 18 months, we will make the short and medium term decisions necessary to achieve this goal. Fighting terrorism in Australia We will deliver improved counter-terrorism and domestic security measures in Australia and secure our ports and airports. Improving foreign affairs – a stronger focus on our region We will increase the importance of foreign affairs, place a stronger focus on our region and rebuild our diplomatic footprint with more effective representation and better diplomacy. We will enhance Australia’s role and engagement in the world developing greater international cooperation. •We will review the weighting Australia gives to its diplomatic resources including overseas representation, with a view to refocusing foreign policy on the Asia-Pacific region. •We will rebuild relationships with our neighbours damaged by Labor’s mismanagement and failed border security policies. •We will enhance US access to bases in Australia and continue to support our close alliance with the US. •We will ensure future aid funding increases are dependent on AusAid meeting strict performance benchmarks. •Within two years, we will establish a new two- way ‘Colombo Plan’ to deepen our knowledge and engagement with countries in our region and develop stronger people-to-people relationships by bringing the best and the brightest talent from our region to Australia and taking Australia’s best and brightest talent to countries in our region.
Posted on: Sat, 05 Oct 2013 07:47:00 +0000
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