More men, equipment for Australian forces

Press, 26 March 1980, Page 16

More men, equipment for Australian forces

By

GRAHAM LEES

in Sydney

The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan has ended the shortage of cash and equipment which has afflicted Australia’s armed forces for years. Led by a Prime Minister; apparently obsessed by Russian global domination, the politically conservative Australian Government is to increase defence spending during the next five years by 81360 M, taking the defence budget to 3 per cent of the gross domestic product. The 70,000-strong ranks of the three services are to be increased by 13,000 — attracted by higher pay. Sophisticated warships and aircraft are to be bought, bases on the West Australian coast upgraded, and a study carried out of the aerial defence needs of the country’s vast and wild northern coast.' Probably more important is a decision to make Australia’s military more independent bv creating the capa-

city to build warships and by" refurbishing arms factories. The Prime Minister, Mr Malcolm Fraser, is accused by the Labour Party Opposition of dangerous theatrics and of trying to capitalise on the Afghan crisis by scaremongering in election year. But Mr Fraser, one of the first Western leaders to back the United States’ Olympic Games boycott call, is a long-time critic and opponent of “Russianism.” According to Mr Fraser the invasion of Afghanistan spells the end of the age of detente and has important implications for Australia’s strategic environment. He sees Soviet naval activity in the Indian Ocean and Vietnam as a long-term threat. Consequently, he has ordered navy and air; force operations in the Indian Ocean to be intensified. Naval and air base facilities bordering the ocean are to be substantially enlarged and

L- United States invited to use them. The air force will get 75 new advanced fighters, probably the American Fl 6, to replace its three Mirage squadrons, and the navy is to have a new fleet of destroyers and 10 more patrol boats. Updated weaponry will be added to other ships and planes. The army reserve is to be enlarged from 22,000 to 30,000. The idea of a draft register on the American model, has been rejected, but a Government-sponsored campaign has begun to persuade industry and business to encourage workers who want to become reservists. Australia is also to increase by 40 per cent to SI32M its civil aid to South Pacific island nations during the next three years to “enhance the development and security of our; common region.” Apart from Government support for an Olympic boy-

cott, other punitive measures being taken against the Soviet Union Include indefinite suspension of ministerial and senior official visits; in-

definite suspension of joint maritime research and fishing plans, Russian cruise ship operations from Australian ports and joint scientific -and

cultural exchanges; and limitations on the Soviet air-< line Aeroflot. —Copyright, London Ob* server Service.