Majority of Australians back boost to defence spending amid US pressure and security concerns

Sky News AU

3 days ago

The majority of voters support lifting Australia's military budget, as former PM Scott Morrison and US officials push for a sharp increase in defence investment ahead of Anthony Albanese's expected meeting with Donald Trump.
The majority of Australians support an increase to the nation's military budget, amid demands from the United States for allies to lift defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP.
According to new analysis from News Corp's Lighthouse Consumer Sentiment Tracker, 57 per cent of voters said military spending should increase beyond its current level.
Eight per cent of people supported spending cuts and 35 per cent believed the status quo was sufficient.
The majority of respondents (39 per cent) also indicated a willingness to fund increased defence spending through higher taxes on high income earns and corporations.
Thirty-seven per cent were willing to fund spending through efficiency savings within government departments and 28 per cent through cuts to foreign aid or partnerships.
The data was based on a representative sample of nearly 5,000 respondents collected between April 1 and May 31.
The survey comes as pressure mounts from the United States for Australia to spend at least 3 per cent of GDP on defence.
The Albanese government has currently invested about 2 per cent of GDP, rising to 2.3 per cent by 2033.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth recently called on Australia to lift defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP.
The appeal was made during a public meeting alongside Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has not ruled out further spending, but maintains additional investment must be aligned with specific needs—not 'arbitrary targets'.
However, Defence Chief Admiral David Johnston told a defence summit on Wednesday that his department would likely ask for a funding boost in the next biennial review.
'The opportunity we have with the biennial cycle now is to keep coming back and reviewing the strategy,' he said.
'Looking at the opportunities or where the investments are required, putting the case to government to increase the defence expenditure where we believe it is needed.'
Admiral Johnston also expressed concern about the possibility of Australia waging war in the future on home soil, rather than overseas.
However, inside the government there has been a belief that they do not expect a direct military invasion of Australia by China.
Rather, insiders view strategic assets like submarines and long-range missiles as tools to protect critical trade routes, not to repel a land invasion. — ASPI (@ASPI_org) May 28, 2025
The defence issue is set to feature prominently at the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Canada between June 15 and 17, where Mr Albanese is expected to meet President Trump.
Former prime minister Scott Morrison has added his voice to calls for more robust military investment, reiterating the Coalition's support for a 3 per cent of GDP target.
'I'm on the record for some time now of supporting a 3 per cent target and that target obviously has to be filled out with the right capabilities,' Mr Morrison said.
'This is a common requirement that has been put forward across all Allies and partners, not just Australia.
'The significant change we're seeing in the security environment necessitates such a response.'
The independent defence and strategic policy think tank, Australian Strategic Policy Institute, recently called on the Albanese government to spend more.
ASPI Executive Director Justin Bassi told Sky News that the public deserves transparency on the country's strategic vulnerabilities.
'Unfortunately, the world has these threats that do impact Australia and to counter these threats we need to, unfortunately, spend more money in the area,' he said.
Mr Albanese publicly dismissed the think tank's recent report warning of a 'hollow' Australian Defence Force, calling ASPI's criticisms 'predictable'.
The Lighthouse Tracker data also revealed strong generational and political divides.
Seventy per cent of baby boomers support more defence spending, compared with 49 per cent of millennials and 47 per cent of Gen Z.
Coalition and One Nation voters were most supportive (69 per cent), while only 40 per cent of Greens voters backed increased funding.
Labor voters were more evenly split, with 52 per cent in favour.
Among potential funding sources, Coalition voters preferred cuts to climate programs (38 per cent), foreign aid (36 per cent), and the arts (30 per cent).
Labor and Greens voters favoured progressive tax reform, with 45 per cent calling for higher taxes on wealthy individuals and corporations.
Only 4 per cent of respondents were willing to consider diverting funds from Medicare, or 10 per cent from cuts to welfare or the NDIS.