What Does Election 2016 Mean for the ADF?

摘要

During the Federal Election of 2 July, the Australian public confirmed what the country's more perceptive commentators had long suspected: That the days of the unambiguous two party system are over. Whilst final voting figures are yet to be released at the time of writing, the counting thus far indicates that neither major party will reach the 76 seat lower house majority required to form government on their own. The ultimate impact of this legislative instability on the Australian Defence Force (ADF), and the extensive acquisition ambitions outlined under Defence Whitepaper 2016, is unlikely to be revealed for some time yet. However, based on past experiences of minority government in Australia, and the political record of the key players in the coming saga, it is possible to offer some speculation into the situation's short and longer term Defence impacts.