Part of the shakeup includes tens of billions for nuclear-powered subs, and halting the pricey procurement of an additional F-35 fighter jet squadron.
In an interview with Breaking Defense, Andrew Hastie discussed keeping AUKUS a three-party arrangement, the housing issue it could create and the need for a new joint defense committee.
It’s about improving existing platforms with autonomy, and applying AI, edge computing, quantum encryption, and sensor fusion.
The retired lieutenant general, Peter Leahy, said he doesn't see "much of a future for defense industry here in Australia, so we've got to pick up our game. I don't think we can be taken seriously in the halls of Washington."
A new report from a leading Australian thinktank says there's a "disconnect" between Australia's strategic priorities and the money to fund capabilities to tackle them.
"Well, there's one country in the region that's undergone the biggest peacetime militarization since the Second World War and that's the People's Republic of China," said Australian Shadow Defense Minister Andrew Hastie. "So they can make comments like they have, but it's kind of ironic given what they're doing with their military."