James Paterson slams Richard Marles for ‘$72 billion of cuts’ to defence

Shadow Home Affairs Minister James Paterson has slammed Defence Minister Richard Marles’ defence announcement as it announced “$72 billion of cuts”.

Overnight, China accused Australia of having a Cold War mentality and that it poses no threat to any other nation.

“I wish the grounds for the Chinese government to be angry were stronger than they actually are because what Richard Marles announced at the National Press Club yesterday was $72 billion of cuts to defence capability that was planned,” Mr Paterson told Sky News Australia.

“He has now taken it out.

“To compensate for this, he says we’re going to have an extra $5.7 billion of spending over the next four years under the forward estimates.”

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