iscover
The greatest single defence question at the moment revolves around the fate of the 11 ex-RAAF CH-47C Chinook heavy lift helos. Operation Kangaroo 89 proved beyond doubt that these large helos are still desperately needed to support both Army and RAAF needs in a hostile environment such as that of northern Australia. Plans to retain four, upgraded to CH-47D specs, even on a revenue-neutral basis though seem too difficult for our service chiefs to be able to come to grips with in an age of 'no decisions, no flak!' (DPR)
Potential Dangers as Defence Spending Softens
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Potential Dangers as Australian Defence Spending Softens
The present year Australian defence budget, at 2. 3% of total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) represents the smallest percentage allocation to defence since the late thirties.
In real terms the $8,327m also represents a 1 % cut on the previous year’s budget. The only good news is that this year the defence vote actually represented a slight increase from 9. 47% to 9. 60% in overall government spending though the long term consequences of this are unclear since treasurer Keating’s economic statement of February 21 this year. That statement foreshadowed a further cut of some $241m over the next three years meaning a reduction in the projected 1990/91 budget of $78. 8m from $9,106m to $9,027m. For the record, this represents the fifth consecutive year in which defence has been cut back in real terms and makes a mockery of the Government’s 1987 White Paper.
What real term implications does this hold for the future defence of Australia though?
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