Global military spending rose last year to more than US$2.8 trillion, an average of more than $8.1 billion every day, according to figures released by the (SIPRI) on April 25.
Australia鈥檚 military spending rose by 4% compared to 2020, SIPRI said. The federal government鈥檚 2022鈥23 budget allocated $48.6 billion to defence. , with the US ranked number 1 and China, number 2.
鈥淭his increase in military spending has happened during the growing national security threat 鈥 the escalating climate catastrophe,鈥 said Denis Doherty, national convenor of the Anti-Bases Campaign Coalition.
鈥淭he world is going to hell while our politicians are drumming up more money for the arms industry,鈥 Doherty said.
He believes Australia鈥檚 military budget is so high because 鈥渢he military alliance with the US forces us to buy equipment rather than materiel needed to defend Australia鈥.
Defence minister Peter Dutton 鈥渋s ratcheting up fear and loathing鈥 of China to justify the government鈥檚 exorbitant military budget, Doherty said. 鈥淒utton鈥檚 dishonest scare campaign is demolished by SIPRI, which show the US share of global military spending is 38% while China鈥檚 is 14%.
鈥淚t is inexcusable for the federal government to prioritise spending on the military over care for the planet and the health, education, housing and other pressing needs,鈥 concluded Doherty.
[Anti-war and peace activists are planning to picket a naval arms bazaar,听, being organised in Sydney, May 10鈥12, at Darling Harbour.]