Coalition wants to see 'real action' on national security 'this decade'

Shadow Defence Minister Andrew Hastie says the Coalition welcomes the ambition of the government's new surface fleet strategy but wants to "see real action this decade". “And I think that’s the problem with this Labor government, they’re not serious about national security," Mr Hastie told Sky News Australia. “Ever since the Defence Strategic Review was handed down last year … we’ve seen no new money; we’ve seen cuts to capability; and we’ve seen inflation eating into the defence budget. “So this $1.7 billion over the forward estimates is a drop in the ocean really. “And we’re not seeing the sort of commitment from this government to remedying the challenges that are facing the Defence Force that we really need.”