Billions More Locked and Loaded for Defence Spending

Government spending on defence is estimated to be $10.9 billion higher in the current financial year than forecast projections in 2022.

A Royal Australian Air Force F-35 aircraft taxis during the Australian International Airshow in Victoria, Australia, on March 3, 2017. Jeremy R. Dixon/AFP via Getty Images)

Defence spending has increased by almost $11 billion (US$7.85 billion) over the past four years, fresh figures reveal.

The amount spent by the federal government on the defence budget between 2022-23 and the current financial year has been estimated to be $10.9 billion higher than forecast projections for the time period made in 2022.