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March 16, 2026
Opposition defence spokesman James Paterson says his return to the national security frontbench will be defined by a "methodical" push to restore ADF capability, declaring that a bureaucratic shake-up will not be enough to protect Australians from regional threats.
In an interview weeks after his appointment to the shadow defence role, the Victorian senator warned that sweeping changes to defence procurement, including the establishment of an independent agency by July 2027, have failed to address an urgent need for military hardware.
"Our potential adversaries aren't worried that we're going to have the best bureaucratic structure ever ... that's not going to transform the ADF," he told The Canberra Times.
"What will transform the ADF is delivering capability, and I'm a bit worried that four years into this government now is the time they are starting to do MOG [machinery of government] changes."
While he remains "open-minded" about the looming restructure, Senator Paterson argued lifting Australia's defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP must be an immediate priority for the federal government.
"If we don't do that, AUKUS will cannibalise other military capabilities," he said.
"If you measure it as a percentage of GDP, this government has not increased defence spending at all."
Australia currently spends about 2 per cent of GDP on defence, which will increase to about 2.33 per cent in a decade. Labor has indicated plans to increase defence spending when it unveils the updated national defence strategy next month.
Senator Paterson said there needs to be an urgent boost to drone and missile capability, raising concerns about cuts to army infantry fighting vehicles and military communications satellites.
While any "imminent" defence announcements are unlikely, he said, any future Coalition proposals would be formulated in a "robust" way after the party's rushed defence policy faced significant criticisms at the last election.
"One of the lessons from last term is when we went around a process and took a shortcut, it caused problems with policy," he said.
"And much more important than when we announce policy, is that the policy stands up to public scrutiny and is fit for purpose."
The third senior Liberal to assume the shadow defence portfolio in two years, Senator Paterson takes over the role as the Coalition manages an ongoing existential crisis.
Considered as one of the party's most potent communicators on national security, Senator Paterson said he is "very comfortable" returning after a stint as finance spokesperson and after previously chairing the government's powerful intelligence and security committee.
"I'd be very happy if I had the honour of being a defence minister for Australia, and for that was the last thing I did in public life," he said.