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April 29, 2026
The Coalition has called on Anthony Albanese to drop the "weasel words" on China and speak frankly about the threat the superpower poses to Australia in a blistering attack.
In a major speech on Tuesday, Senator Paterson lamented Labor's defence spending, arguing that it was effectively cutting the military budget by sacrificing projects to cover AUKUS the $368bn pact with Britain and the US to arm the navy with nuclear powered submarines.
Senator Paterson also claimed the Albanese government had failed to explain to Australians why the country needs to spend more on defence, saying jargonised language "has real world consequences".
"The main reason why it is so hard for defence ministers to get a dollar out of the (Expenditure Review Committee) is because we have collectively failed to earn and sustain the social license for the defence spending we need to protect our country," Senator Paterson told the National Press Club.
"Against other worthy causes some of which are more politically popular defence keeps losing out.
"If the Australian public knew how likely conflict is in our own region in the near future, and how ill-prepared we were for it, they would be marching in the streets demanding higher defence spending.
"Instead of being honest with the Australian people about the threat and our preparedness, they are being lulled into a false sense of security."
He went on to say it was perverse that the government "is telling (Australians) we have stabilised our international relationships and we've never spent more on defence".
"If that's really true, Australians will wonder why we need to increase defence spending any further or even set aside $368bn to acquire nuclear propelled submarines," Senator Paterson said.
"It is almost impossible to find a defence or national security expert who thinks we are spending enough or moving fast enough."