Media
|
Media Releases
June 3, 2026
The Department of Defence has refused to detail $10 billion of secret cuts to defence capability at Senate Estimates, in further evidence of Labor’s contempt for transparency on defence.
Defence officials confirmed that the Albanese Government has cut four projects from the IIP, but refused to outline what these are other than the C-27 Spartan aircraft and Integrated Air and Missile Defence command and control, saying “it is up to the Government to announce that.”
Defence also confirmed that 18 unidentified projects had been delayed or de-scoped.
Defence’s Chief Finance Officer, Mr Steven Groves, confirmed the $10 billion cuts figure came from the Minister for Defence or Minister for Defence Industry in a private briefing to journalists.
Defence officials confirmed net savings from cancelling the C-27 Spartan would be $300m, and around $5 billion was reprioritised from Integrated Air and Missile Defence command and control, leaving $4.7 billion in cuts unaccounted for.
Last night the new Secretary of Defence, Meghan Quinn, refused to specify how “significant” the savings were moving to three in service Virginia Class Submarines, saying she “needed to confirm whether the government is happy to release that information.”
It is no wonder there is a Labor revolt on AUKUS when the Albanese government is unable to provide the most basic transparency about the defence budget.
ENDS