Coalition unveils defence policies

A federal coalition government would consider a stronger role in Afghanistan, says
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.
And it would also buy unmanned aircraft to detect asylum seekers arriving by boat.
Addressing Sydney's Lowy Institute on Friday, Mr Abbott said involvement in both the
Iraq and Afghanistan wars was right.
It has deepened Australia's ties with the United States and Britain as well as
reinforcing its significance to the world, he said.
But while stopping short of committing precise numbers of troops to the region, Mr
Abbott said Australia could and should do more, including taking a lead role in some
provinces.
He was speaking during a wide-ranging, 38-minute speech outlining the coalition's
defence and national security policies.
"Putting more troops at risk is not a decision that any Australian government should
lightly make but the near certainty of higher casualties has to be weighed against
the consequences of failing to shoulder extra responsibilities," Mr Abbott told an
audience of politicians and business chiefs.
"How fair is it to leave Australia's security so much in the hands of other
countries' soldiers? Or expect America and Britain to do nearly all the free world's
heavy lifting?
"If satisfied that the role made strategic sense and was compatible with our other
military commitments, the coalition government would be prepared to consider doing
more.
"Doing more would be a sign Australia was serious about its overseas responsibilities."
The opposition leader said he fully backed involvement in the two wars, saying
terrorism and nuclear proliferation were ongoing threats to the West and other
nations.
The coalition would aim to increase defence spending by three per cent a year until
2018, as was the case under the Howard government, Mr Abbott said.
It would also back the purchase of new submarines to replace the current fleet, he
added.
A commitment was also made to buy three unmanned Global Hawk Surveillance aircraft
to aid detection of asylum seekers arriving by boat.
"These aircraft would help to protect the vast oil and gas projects now progressing
on the North West Shelf," Mr Abbott said.
"Real-time surveillance and their vast area of coverage should allow much earlier
detection and interception of illegal boat arrivals.
"Improved intelligence would also make it easier to track and help boats in danger
of sinking."
A detailed defence policy containing fully costed plans to fund capital acquisitions
would be released nearer to the federal election, Mr Abbott said.
In other policy announcements, Mr Abbott said a coalition government would ensure at
least 1000 places a year are available to school leavers on the Defence Gap Year
program, designed to offer young people an insight into life in the armed forces.
The coalition would also match the government's overseas aid commitments but Mr
Abbott said spending should be refocused to make maximum impact on tackling poverty.
The coalition would also consider abolishing the International Commission on Nuclear
Non-Proliferation and Disarmament, set up by the Rudd government in 2008.
Mr Abbott questioned whether the commission made any useful contribution to
Australia's non-proliferation objectives.
Chief of the army Ken Gillespie hadn't heard Mr Abbott's comments but told AAP troop
numbers in Afghanistan were sufficient at the moment.
"We know what our mission is and we know what our numbers are and we're doing it
pretty well," he said.
He added Australia's commitment was a matter for the government of the day.
"If (Mr Abbott) gets lucky and wins government, he can have a view of what his
government might do."



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