Embargo : Sunday 5 pm
PRIME MINISTER'S QUEENSLAND BROADCAST NO. 6
DEFENCE
Sunday 27 April 1975
Since the recent unhappy turn of events in Indo-China
the Opposition parties in Canberra have been rubbing their
hands in glee in the belief that they can capitalise on a
supposed weakness in Australia's defences. They have fostered
the myth the damaging myth that our defences are neglected
and run-down. Of course, where defence matters are concerned,
I don't suppose we should take much notice of the men who
bungled the Flil deal and got us disastrously involved in
the war in Vietnam. But it's important that their latest
accusations be promptly nailed. Here in Queensland there
are more major d ! fence bases and installations than in any
other State. Defence is a natural concern to you. The fact
is that Australia's defences are strong and vigorous. We
have highly trained, well-equipped professional forces
better peacetime forces than-ever before.
And the important thing to remember is that under a
Labor Government our defences have been maintained without
conscription. One of the first things we did was abolish
the detested and inefficient call-up of Australia's youth.
We can take it that the Opposition don't object to that
decision because they have sinice told us after some
prompting that they wouldn't reintroduce conscription
themselves. So let's look at the figures that really matterthe
volunteer forces, the professional servicemen who are
making service life their career. In December 1972, when
the previous Government went out, the volunteer strength of
the three services was 69,195. Today it is actually a little
higher 69,200. And the increase we have authorised in the
army strength will take it from 31,500 to 34,000 by the end
of next year the biggest peacetime army Australia has ever
had. Or look at it in money terms. In the last full year
of Liberal-Country Party government, Australia was spending
$ 1217 million a year-on defence. This financial year we'll
be spending almost $ 1800 million the equivalent of $ 5 million
a day. We're not wasting that money on unhappy young conscripts.
We're spending it on the arms, the equipment, the professional
training that will make our defences as good as those of any
comparable country.
The Opposition make much of the Government's supposed
belief that Australia faces no threat for 10 or 15 years.
No one has ever said that an attack on Australia is impossible.
We have concluded, on the basis of the best advice available,
that such an attack is highly unlikely within 10 years or
more. That is the advice the previous Government received
* and it came from the same authorities who advise my own
Government on the strategic situation. That situation is
constantly under review, Of course there will always be
uncertainties from time to time. No one can guarantee
a period of full uninterrupted peace. But that's no reason
for believing that an external threat is imminent. To
assume that what is possible must be probable would mean
putting the country on a permanent war footing with all
that would mean for the economy and the welfare of our
people. We have to be quite realistic about this and
realism doesn't mean fearing the worst, or, as I sometimes
suspect, hoping for the worst. I have no time for those
who want to whip up panic, weaken the people's faith in
the strength of our forces and the morale of the forces
themselves. Our whole emphasis has been on efficient organisation,
modern equipment and well-paid professional servicemen.
One of our first actions was to amalgamate the separate
service departments into a. strong, combined Department of
Defence. Further reorganisation is still to come. We
have set about a major program of defence procurement.
Last year we announced plans for two new patrol frigates,
53 replacement tanks for the Army, long-range maritime
patrol aircraft and 45 new fire support vehicles. We are
ensuring that Australian industry has a fair participation
in our procurement of equipment from overseas. To date,
the total value of orders placed on Australian industry
under reciprocal purchasing arrangements exceeds $ 72. million.
We are not just buying hardware from abroad.
hb have many other plans for defence equipment and
the modernisation of defence facilities dockyards, naval
bases, training centres and the like. But, first and foremost,
we recognise the need for dedicated, well-paid, secure and
professionally-minded manpower. Only by making service life
attractive and rewarding will we develop the basis of a
sound defence effort. Sometimes I think that retirement
benefits for officers were made so attractive that too many
of them left the services to take advantage of them. -Nevertheless,
we have established a generous new defence force
retirement and death benefit scheme. There is a $ 1000 tax-free
bonus for re-engagements; wider eligibility for defence service
housing loans; a wider application of repatriation benefits;
approval for credit unions in the services; progressive upgrading
of married quarters and other living accommodation;
improved resettlement benefits. We have appointed an
ombudsman for the services whose job is to investigate
complaints of unfair treatment or miscarriage of justice.
Ih short we are laying the basis for a happy,
secure life in the peacetime forces of our country.
As one who spent four years in the services I know how
important that is. And with the other reforms we have
made, and the equipment programs under way, I have no
doubt-that Australia is in a better position than she
has ever been to meet any military threat or military
obligation in the foreseeable future.