Letter

Dear Editor,

The Morrison government’s plan to spend $270 billion over the next decade on the military, including billions on long range missiles is truly worrying, especially when it recklessly cuts funding on diplomacy: DFAT funding cuts representing 24 per cent of all departmental cuts over the last five years.

This money is going on military equipment, or missiles, which will not be delivered until the late 2030s and the $4 billion “Future Frigate Weapons” programme, planned to start this year, will not be completed until 2044, by which time such weapons will probably be obsolete anyway.

We are being drawn into a state of fear by following the US into every imperialist skirmish around the world. Australia needs to become non-aligned internationally, as is Indonesia.

An increase to our aid program and our diplomatic services would be more effective than being part of this war-mongering US “gang” continually threatening our biggest trading neighbour in SE Asia with the possibility of war.

I’m convinced that the Australian people would support a better use of $270 billion than throwing it at the US military-industrial complex. Post COVID-19, the Morrison government would be better advised to act on the climate crisis and look at a universal basic income, which are far greater and immediate national security priorities. Breaking from the US yoke could lead to some peace in our time.

Eileen Whitehead
WA