Strong Defence

The Government is committed to a properly resourced, equipped and managed Defence.

To achieve this, the Government will publish a new Defence White Paper in 2015, which will deliver costed, affordable ways to meet Australia's defence and national security objectives. It will also set out how the Government will increase Defence spending to two per cent of GDP.

The Government will also conduct a first principles review of Defence. This will deliver more streamlined and less bureaucratic decision-making.

The new White Paper and the first principles review of Defence will reduce waste, speed up decision-making and restore authority to the commanders responsible for delivering war-fighting capabilities.

Rebuilding Defence capability

This Budget brings forward $1.5 billion in spending from 2017‑18 to earlier years. This will help Defence to invest in the capability needed to strengthen Australia's Defence Force.

Defence operations

Australia will continue to play its part in operations, both overseas and in securing our own borders. The Budget delivers, in 2014‑15, $136.1 million for overseas operations, and $59.7 million for Defence to continue its contribution to securing Australia's borders, including Operation Sovereign Borders.

As the Australian Defence Force returns home from Afghanistan, the Government will give further consideration to Australia's ongoing role in Afghanistan to continue to support global security.