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July 18th, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda 
Tony Abbott told the Heritage Foundation in Washington that Labor should not be cutting defence spending in a way that compromised defence capability.
Source: AFP
PRIME Minister Julia Gillard has accused Tony Abbott of trashing Australia’s security credentials during his visit to Washington.
Ms Gillard said the Opposition Leader had reached a new low in negativity in his criticism of defence spending cuts.
Defending Labor’s record, she said defence spending exceeded $100 billion over the four-year forward estimates period for the first time ever under Labor and remained at that level.
“Mr Abbott has reached a new low in negativity by going overseas and criticising this nation’s national security credentials in front of an overseas audience,” she told reporters, adding that he had voted in favour of the defence budget he was now attacking.
Mr Abbott told the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, that Labor should not be cutting defence spending in a way that compromised defence capability, given that Australia’s military capabilities were not vast.
“Certainly the last thing we want to do is dismay our friends and allies at what is for everyone a difficult time,” he said.
Mr Abbott said a coalition government would seek efficiencies in defence spending.
But in an interview on Sky News, he declined to commit to restoring defence spending to former levels.
“I would want to get the advice of the defence chiefs as to what the impact of this will be on our military capability,” he said.
In the May budget, the government slashed $5.45 billion from defence spending over the next four years.
The opposition was highly critical, saying the move would reduce defence spending to 1.6 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP), a level not seen since 1938.
Some US figures have also criticised the cuts.
Former US deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage said the Australian defence budget was inadequate and spending of 2 per cent of GDP would be appropriate.
He suggested Australia was taking a free ride on the US and risking its credibility as an ally.
Opposition defence spokesman David Johnston said this was a timely warning.
“The superficially expedient nature of these cuts means Australia is left without a credible defence administrative or strategic plan,” he said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Ms Gillard said she trusted the vast majority of families to spend tax cuts and family payment rises wisely.
Queensland Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation figures show poker machine revenues in the state rose more than 7 per cent in May, coinciding with the first carbon tax compensation handouts.
Revenue rose almost 12 per cent in June, year-on-year, The Australian Financial Review said today.
“The vast majority of families use all of the monies they earn and assistance from government for the welfare of their family and particularly for the welfare of their kids,” Ms Gillard told reporters at an early learning centre in the West Australian town of Wyndham on Wednesday.
“We provided to families tax cuts, family payment increases … the schoolkids bonus.
“I trust the vast majority of families to do what they do every day, which is get up and show love and care and concern for their children and spend their income for the benefit of their kids.”
Small Business Minister Brendan O’Connor said a “negligible amount” from compensation payments had been spent on the pokies.
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