ADF budget cuts ‘run down the readiness of the force’: Nation’s defence compromised

Australia Strategic Analysis Marcus Hellyer says “something has to give” as there simply is not enough in Australia’s military “funding envelope” to afford all the new projects it has undertaken.

"There are unconfirmed reports of “cuts elsewhere,” Mr Hellyer told Sky News host Cory Bernardi.

“It is very unpopular to cut numbers of service personnel so that is always a measure of last resort.

“The thing that is left is your sustainment budget – the problem with doing that, however, is you run down the readiness of the force.”