Peter Dutton to promise Australia will boost defence spending to the 3% of GDP demanded by Trump administration

A Coalition government, if elected, would boost Australian defence spending to the 3% of GDP demanded by the Trump administration of America’s allies, opposition leader Peter Dutton will promise on Wednesday. Under the Coalition proposal, defence spending would continue to increase, as a proportion of GDP, to 3% within a decade. The details of the Coalition’s proposed defence spending have not been unveiled publicly but are expected to include new drones, missiles and expanded Aukus-related infrastructure in Western Australia. The shadow defence minister, Andrew Hastie, said the costings for the Coalition’s defence commitments would be released before the 3 May election. “The main concern the United States should press with Australia ... is higher defence spending.