The Coalition will closely examine the Albanese Government’s proposed restructure of the Department of Defence, warning that organisational reshuffles must not distract from Australia’s urgent capability needs.

Australia is facing the most dangerous strategic environment since the Second World War, with autocratic regimes increasingly assertive in the Indo-Pacific.

Right now, our region is being tested. We are seeing hostile actions against our ADF, against our critical infrastructure and cyber security, and against our friends and partners — including the recent events in Japan.

In this environment, reshuffling boxes on a Defence org chart is not a strategy. The test of this restructure is simple:

1. Does it get equipment into the hands of our war-fighters faster?
2. Does it clear the roadblocks to sovereign capability – on missiles, air defences, naval acquisitions, autonomous vehicles and drones?
3. Does it make Defence more agile – with faster decisions, fewer bureaucratic bottlenecks and clearer lines of accountability?
4. Is it properly funded so it delivers real capability, not just more press releases and process?

Our men and women in uniform need kit in their hands, capability in the field, and a government prepared to fund and deliver it.

Without proper funding, without a focus on readiness, and without a clear plan to back our people and industry, this risks being yet another exercise in moving the deck chairs while strategic storm clouds gather.

Australia needs a defence system that stands on its own two feet within our alliances — ready, agile, properly funded and laser-focused on getting capability to the frontline.

Shadow Minister for Defence Angus Taylor said “the real test of Labor’s restructure is delivery, not spin.”

“Too often, defence procurement is slow, bloated and underfunded. Projects run years late, costs blow out, and Australian industry is left on the sidelines when we should be building a sovereign edge in missiles, air defence, naval capabilities, autonomous systems and drones.”

“It is one thing to create an ‘Armaments Division’ on paper. It is another thing entirely to move from rhetoric to readiness,” he said.

Shadow Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said “The Coalition stands ready to work with the Government on any reform that genuinely speeds up procurement and gets capability into the hands of our war fighters faster.

“While Labor is patting themselves on the back and calling this the ‘biggest reform in 50 years’, Australian defence industry is reeling from a lack of investment.

“This is simply shuffling the deck chairs. GWEO and NSSG were spun out of CASG under this Government. Both are simply being returned under one roof. There is no new money on the table and this is simply Labor attempting to distract Australians from their poor management of defence procurement.

“Instead of playing games, Labor should be investing in Australian industry and ensuring our men and women in uniform have the equipment they need to keep us all safe," she said

ENDS