Big boost for Defence budget

The government’s 2009-10 budget released on May 9 sees Defence spending leap some 14 per cent for the 2009-10 financial year to $26. 6 billion.

Defence’s budget then falls slightly – in real terms – over subsequent years to be at $26. 3 billion for 2012-13 – allowing the government to meet its Defence White Paper pledge of on average three per cent real funding growth.