PM offers grim outlook as he announces $270bn in defence funding

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced a $270 billion boost to defence as he offered a grim outlook in what he described as a "poorer, more dangerous" post-COVID-19 world. The Prime Minister outlined a 10-year funding model as part the government's 2020 National Defence Strategy, committing to defence funding that would go beyond two per cent of GDP. The strategy centred around a three-objective approach to shape the region, deter foreign powers and respond to impending threats. "The Indo-Pacific is the epicentre of rising strategic competition. Our region will not only shape our future, increasingly though, it is the focus of the dominant global contest of our age," Mr Morrison said. Mr Morrison said the ADF would shift its focus to the Indo-Pacific region to ensure it could deter threats and respond with credible military force. The Prime Minister also announced the purchase of long-range anti-ship ballistic missiles to protect Australia from greater distances. Image: News Corp Australia Via news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site https://www.news.com.au