Australia is being lulled into a false sense of security regarding the threat of conflict, according to a Coalition senator who is calling for greater transparency about defence risks. In a major address to the National Press Club on Tuesday, shadow defence minister James Paterson argued that military leadership and the government must be more forthcoming about looming dangers, as reported by AAP.
Paterson contended that such openness would help the public accept increases in military spending in the coming years. He stated, “If the Australian public knew how likely conflict is in our own region in the near future, and how ill-prepared we were for it, they would be marching in the streets demanding higher defence spending.”
Rather than being honest with the Australian people about the threat and the nation’s level of preparedness, Paterson claimed, “they are being lulled into a false sense of security.” He suggested that one way to present these threats would be an annual address by the chief of the defence force on security challenges, similar to the annual threat assessment delivered by Asio head Mike Burgess. “Australians are hungry for more candour about the dangers we face and they are entitled to it,” Paterson concluded.
