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| Budget boost for ADF By Barry Rollings Edition 5008, 17 May, 2007 |
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This comes on top of the $4.1 billion allocated for the enhanced land force initiative, which will establish an extra two Army battalions after an additional $1 billion was allocated to Defence recruitment and retention in December 2006. This year’s Defence budget of $22 billion is an increase of $2.1 billion or 10.6 per cent on 2006-07; it is planned to grow to $29.9 billion in 2016-17. “The substantial increase in funding will ensure that Defence has a well-equipped and well-trained force able to meet the challenges that lie ahead,” the Minister for Defence, Dr Brendan Nelson, said. “Key investments include the new air combat capability, air warfare destroyers, amphibious ships and other priorities included in the Defence Capability Plan.” The additional $14 billion 10-year allocation would be applied to: - A package of recruitment and retention measures designed to increase recruitment intakes and reduce military separation rates ($2.1 billion). - Acquiring 24 F/A-18F Block II Super Hornet multi-role aircraft to ensure that Australia maintains its air combat capability edge during its transition to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter over the next decade (around $6.6 billion over 13 years). - Additional logistics sustainment funding to ensure that the ADF is well prepared and able to respond to contingencies now and in the future ($1.8 billion). - Personnel and operating costs for the C-17 aircraft ($1.3 billion). - Strengthening of Australia’s Defence intelligence and security capabilities ($382.2 million). - An additional $1.3 billion for Defence operations, subject to regular review, comprising: $703 million over three financial years to expand Australia’s commitment to operations in Afghanistan, including the redeployment of Special Forces and other enabling support elements including a mobile control and reporting unit, and the redeployment of Chinook helicopter support; $389 million over three financial years to maintain a deployment of about 1500 ADF personnel in and around Iraq; $135 million over two financial years to maintain the present ADF force level commitment to East Timor to assist in the restoration of stability and security and $52 million over four financial years for the continued surveillance of Australia’s northern approaches as part of Operation Resolute. - Investment in security measures to protect Defence personnel, key assets, facilities and infrastructure at Defence bases ($135 million). - Additional funding to ensure that Defence Housing Australia meets competitive requirements. |
