Australia moves towards a wartime footing

[Yorkie Mom]

#breaking Australia’s military will move towards a wartime footing under government plans to increase uniformed personnel to almost 80,000 by 2040. The $38 billion expansion to be unveiled by @ScottMorrisonMP
would see the fulltime ADF grow to its largest since the Vietnam War

Link to tweet

Andrew Greene is an ABC correspondent''

Article: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-10/defence-workforce-growing-2040-national-security/100896902

[getagrip_already]

1. Why? n/t

[Yorkie Mom]

3. The article says because of the war in Ukraine and growing tensions w/ China.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-10/defence-workforce-growing-2040-national-security/100896902

[Sherman A1]

2. I think an increase of forces that is going to take 18 years to complete

Is hardly moving to a wartime footing. A bit too much hyperbole in the headline.

[Yorkie Mom]

5. From the article:

"You can't flick a switch to increase your army, navy and air force overnight. Growing the type of people and skills we need to face the threats of the future takes time, so we must start now so critical skills can be taught and experience gained."

[Sherman A1]

10. I understand that point, the headline remains very misleading

It could just as easily said that they plan an increase in forces without the sensationalism.

[jimfields33]

11. Probably so, but China is a risk

China could easily take Australia fairly easily. Let’s hope they never do.

[Sherman A1]

14. China 🇨🇳 is a significant problem no doubt.

China is also beset with multiple internal issues and would have a great deal of difficulty trying to take Australia 🇦🇺 starting with getting there to do anything.

[speak easy]

4. BS

There is a state of emergency because of widespread floods.

[Yorkie Mom]

6. Article

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-10/defence-workforce-growing-2040-national-security/100896902

[speak easy]

7. I'm reading it, but I don't see it.

I'm living in Sydney, Australia. It is a world away from the U.S mindset. The uniformed Defense Force is around 40,000. Now they are taking about adding 18,500 more - in 20 years? So ... about 59K. If they were in Europe, they would be laughed out of the doors.

[Yorkie Mom]

8. "Against the backdrop of war in Ukraine and growing tensions with China, Mr Morrison has identified

Against the backdrop of war in Ukraine and growing tensions with China, Mr Morrison has identified national security as a key battleground for his re-election bid, arguing the "first priority of my government is to keep Australians safe".

[speak easy]

9. ... there is an election coming in less than two months ...

The current PM looking down the barrel at a big loss. Hopefully the next (labour) PM will discount the war talk.

[Yorkie Mom]

12. Maybe, but last graph:

"In a speech on Thursday, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese will stress that Labor has offered bipartisan support for increased defence spending and recognises it will need to go beyond a 2 per cent of GDP benchmark.

[speak easy]

13. Understood.