Should Australia increase or decrease military spending?

Last answered 3 hours ago

Increase

4,698 votes

37%

Decrease

4,389 votes

35%

Distribution of answers submitted by Australian voters.

30%

Increase

35%

Decrease

28%

Neither, I am satisfied with the current amount of spending

7%

Increase, but only after our deficit is drastically reduced

2 Increase answers

1 Decrease answers

1 overlapping answers

Data includes total votes submitted by visitors since Dec 5, 2015. For users that answer more than once (yes we know), only their most recent answer is counted in the total results. Total percentages may not add up to exactly 100% as we allow users to submit "grey area" stances that may not be categorised into yes/no stances.

In February 2016 the government announced that military spending will increase Military spending will grow by $29.9b through 2026. Australia’s military budget is the 12th largest in the world. The 2016 increase will rank Australia 9th amongst world Defence budgets as a percentage of GDP. Proponents of a larger budget argue that it is necessary due to recent disagreements between the US and China in the South China sea. Critics of a larger budget argue that it sets off an unnecessary arms race and will provoke China into creating a larger naval force to offset it.  See recent military spending news