Richard Marles has responded to questions about whether Australia can defend itself amid the situation facing the region after the late Jim Molan said the nation was 'woefully unprepared for war'.
Defence Minister Richard Marles has rejected claims about Australia's preparedness for conflict but said there is"work to do" to best respond to threats facing the nation.
"No. Ours is not a large military, but it's a highly capable military and I think Australians should take a sense of comfort and confidence in the fact that we have really capable people wearing our uniform who greatly add to what our nation can do," Mr Marles said on Wednesday afternoon. Mr Marles and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday were handed a copy of the Defence Strategic Review that was headed by former Defence Force chief Sir Angus Houston and former defence minister Stephen Smith.
Gilbert put it to Mr Marles whether Australia could defend itself right now given the volatile situation facing the region. "But the situation we face today is actually in a globalised networked world, where as a trading nation so much of our national income is based on trade."
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