Defence Expenditure

The majority voted against a motion against defence spending that was introduced by Greens Senator Scott Ludlam.

Motion text

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

(i) the Government's recent announcement that it plans to spend $730 million on the Next Generation Technologies Fund, which has been touted as a "war chest" to help create "super troops" in the Australian Defence Force,

(ii) the Government's cognitive dissonance in committing nearly three quarters of a billion dollars to defence flights of fancy while maintaining the mantra that Australia needs to "live within its means", and

(iii) the Government's cuts to schools, hospitals and investments in public infrastructure, and its proposed cuts to Australia's social safety net; and

(b) calls on the Australian Government to spend $730 million on schools, hospitals and public infrastructure, as well as protecting and enhancing Australia's social safety net, rather than a slush fund for unnecessary and wasteful military spending.