Australian politics and news live: Peter Dutton, Andrew Hastie announce $21b defence pledge

There’s been a fiery back and forward with Shadow Defence Minister Andrew Hastie and journalists at a Perth press conference this morning about his previous comments around women in the Australian Defence Force.

Several years ago, Mr Hastie had said he didn’t believe women could perform some roles within the ADF.

He has since declared that his opinion has changed and the Coalition’s policy is that anyone can take up roles in the ADF.

“The Coalition policy is that all combat roles are open to women. It’s been our long-standing position,” he said.

“We have one standard. All Australians, regardless of your background, race, sexuality, gender, religion, every single role in the ADF is open to you, and we want more Australians to join.

“I am not going to resile from what I have said in the past.

“You want honesty and integrity from politicians, I said what I said, but the thing that the Australian people need to know, under a Dutton-led Coalition government, we will have a policy that is open to all Australians for combat roles.”

Opposition leader Peter Dutton has slammed Defence Minister Richard Marles for focusing more on playing golf around the world rather than on protecting Australians.

The personal attack comes as the Liberal leader spruiks his defence policy in Perth today.

“Under Richard Marles, when it comes to defence, he’s more interested in playing golf courses around the world than getting a better understanding of what it is that we need to do as a country,” he said.

It comes after Mr Dutton slammed former Labor PM and Australian ambassador to the US for not being able to get a phone call with President Donald Trump when his predecessor had previously played golf with Mr Trump previously.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton has been asked where he will be making savings to pay for measures like his recently announced defence investment on Wednesday.

It’s a question he has been asked throughout the campaign and has been criticised repeatedly for by Labor - as recently as last night’s third leaders’ debate.

Mr Dutton told reporters on Wednesday that the Coalition has been “responsible” and considered with its financial plan and made intentional announcements.

“You’ll always get a more stable Government when it comes to the economy and national security under the Coalition and that’s why we’ve been responsible in the amount of money that we’ve committed,” he said.

“The reason in part that we’ve left to a later point in the campaign (for this) announcement is to get a better idea of where finances are and how much money we can put into defence.”

Shadow Defence Minister Andrew Hastie has claimed Australia is “growing weaker” under Labor and their cutting agenda.

The Canning MP said Labor’s lack of investment in defence was a threat to Australia’s national security and the Coalition’s Defence plan would strengthen the nation’s global position.

“Under Labor, we’ve seen $80 billion worth of cuts, delays and reprioritisations to the Defence Force and we’re weaker as a result,” he said.

“They’ve cut our infantry fighting vehicle program. They’ve cut two supply ships, the fourth Squadron of F-35s.

“Labor is asleep at the wheel. We’re going backwards on AUKUS. This is a multigenerational nation-building endeavour and they are failing.

“They’re cutting and weakening this country and that’s why this announcement is so important.

“We’re going to increase our defence spend to 2.5 per cent of GDP within five years.”

Mr Hastie said Mr Dutton’s presence in the West, where the nation’s future AUKUS home is, sent an important message.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton has spruiked his Defence spending plan while addressing a press conference in Perth today.

He’s pinned the Coalition as the party to protect Australia amid growing tension abroad and increasing security concerns in the Asia-Pacific.

“What we announce today is a record investment into defence which will be of particular benefit here in West Australia, South Australia and other defence hubs around the country,” he said.

“Australia has an important role to play on the global stage and our own region, but most importantly, a good Australian government will always invest in keeping us safe.”

The Coalition’s defence plan involves investing an extra $21 billion in the next five years, increasing the overall defence spending to 2.5 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP).

It would be a jump over five years from the current level of 2.04 per cent.

It’s also set a goal of reaching 3 per cent within a decade.

Labor’s eight-year plan is to lift defence spending to 2.3 per cent of GDP by 2033.

Coalition’s Defence spokesman Andrew Hastie has appeared at Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s Perth press conference this morning.

His presence comes after he’s been accused of being missing in action on the campaign, with his only media appearance with Mr Dutton on the campaign trail in Darwin more than two weeks ago to discuss reclaiming the Darwin port.

“Pleased to be here with Andrew Hastie, our Shadow Minister for Defence, somebody who has served his country in uniform in the SAS no less,” Mr Dutton opened his press conference on Wednesday.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton is speaking in Perth’s inner eastern seat of Swan this morning.

He’s expected to hold a press conference to spruik his defence policy, which was released on Wednesday.

The Coalition will pump at least $21 billion more into Defence than Labor by 2030 — if Mr Dutton wins the election on May 3.

The Opposition leader toured a Belmont facility linked to the defence industry this morning with shadow defence spokesman Andrew Hastie, Senator Michaelia Cash, former defence minister Linda Reynolds and local candidate Mic Fels.

Opposition leader Peter Dutton has told breakfast radio he’s not worried by Labor’s advertising war chest to tear down his image ahead of the May 3 Federal Election.

Speaking to 3AW on Wednesday morning, the Liberal leader claimed Anthony Albanese’s spin doctors were driving a multi-million dollar smear campaign.

“I know the Labor Party’s probably spent north of $20 million throwing mud at me over the last few weeks. So, that will have an impact,” he said.

“The government’s spent more money than any government in the last 40 years. It’s the worst government since the Whitlam Government, and the prices of everything have gone up as a result of that.”

Opposition leader Peter Dutton appeared on breakfast radio this morning after a strong performance at last night’s third leaders’ debate.

Calling into Melbourne’s 3AW, he spruiked the Coalition’s cost-of-living measures including their gas reservation policy to return gas into the Australian domestic market and reduce energy prices.

Victorian audiences are a key cohort the Liberal leader wants to reach, as the party is hoping to claw back mortgage belt seats in outer Melbourne.

Mr Dutton has had a particular focus on Aston and McEwen.

“I think ultimately the election is going to come down to who people trust to manage the economy and keep us safe,” he told presenter Tom Elliott.

“Ultimately, I think what people will decide their vote (by asking themselves) do they want three more years of what the Albanese Government’s delivered over the past three years?

“The Liberal Party always manages the economy more effectively. We’ve got a plan which says that we want to bring petrol prices down and give $1,200 back of people’s tax that they’ve paid through a rebate, and we want to keep our communities safer.

“I think people as they sharpen their focus over the next 10 days, will realise that we just can’t afford three more years of an Albanese Government.”

More than half a million Australians voted on Tuesday, in a record first day of early voting at a federal election.

The Australian Election Commission said 532,000 votes were cast around the country on the first day of pre-poll.

On the first day of the 2022 pre-poll period, 314,000 people voted.

Around 19,000 votes were cast with mobile voting teams in remote locations and 2.2 million postal votes have been distributed.

In NSW, 166,600 people voted early, in Victoria 143,200, and in Queensland 59,900.