Defence spending

RECENTLY the Federal Government announced the approximate defence budget for Australia. The figure is about $34.6 billion. The US is quoted as $US523 billion, Russia about $US72 billion and for North Korea, the figures aren’t accurately available.

The four largest world armed forces are 1. China. 2. India. 3. US. 4. North Korea and number 22 is Australia.

The US is quoted as having 1.34 million in their forces, China has 2.3 million active and up to seven million reserves. Aust has 60,000 active and 21,000 reserves.

North Korea has the world’s highest per capita at 48 active members per 1000 population. All males and many females have to do years of compulsory conscription training.

They are estimated to have well above one million active and and a reserve of more than six million. One third of their total budget is on military. Their armed force is estimated at 4000 plus tanks, 70 submarines, the same as the US, 6500 artillery guns, 1000 planes in their air force and 2500 rocket launchers.

They are nuclear armed, have the Sarin nerve gas and other similar for chemical warfare.

It is said that they don’t want war, well knowing the result for themselves and the whole world.

If China or North Korea really ever decided to take Australia, they could simply parachute in millions of soldiers. So in actual fact, is our $34 billion going to be of any use to realistically protect us? Or would some of it be better spent on other urgent needs?

The US logically has to be our backstop, like it or not.

Hopefully we will never need to know. — RAY HARCH, Toowoomba