Conservative Leader Says Australia’s Defence Spending Should Rise to 5 Percent of GDP

Conservative Leader Says Australia’s Defence Spending Should Rise to 5 Percent of GDP

Conservative-leaning One Nation leader Pauline Hanson says Australia’s defence budget should increase from around 3.5 percent of GDP to 5 percent. The senator said funding the increase would come by dissolving several government departments and welfare programs. “I’d like to see more defence spending in drones and missiles,” Hanson said, warning against free-riding on allies like the United States. “We must be able to defend ourselves as a natio…