the issue is serious.

It’s not just about wasting money, as Defence has so often done in the past. It’s now very much about making sure we can deter conflict, and deal with it if deterrence fails. When it all goes bad you take what you’ve got to the fight, and a handful of contracts with blown schedules and budgets are not much of a weapon.

Source: Rex Patrick: as US-China tensions rise Australia remains pitifully unprepared for war – Michael West