Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:01): First can I acknowledge the first question from Senator Collins and congratulate her on her first speech yesterday. Can I say to her—she would be aware, I would assume—that we have increased defence spending over the forward estimates and over the decade: an additional $10.6 billion over the forwards, and $56.7 billion over the decade. As the Prime Minister has made clear, we fund capability. We are very conscious that the first responsibility of a government is to ensure we keep our people safe and keep our nation safe. Critical to that—and central to that—is ensuring Defence has the capability required to deal with these uncertain times. That is why we have increased defence funding to record levels—the biggest peacetime increase in Australia's history. I would also make the point—and the senator was not part of the government which delivered this—that what we saw under the previous government was a lot of press releases but very little capability. In fact, some 28 projects were running nearly a century behind schedule; the cumulative slippage in capability acquisition under the previous government was 97 years. Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator WONG: The senator is one of those who does understand the strategic circumstances Australia faces. She would also understand, given her deep knowledge of the Pacific, the importance of all arms of national power— The PRESIDENT: Senator Henderson, I've called the chamber to order! Senator WONG: being directed to Australia's national security. Defence is first amongst those, but there's also diplomacy and economic engagement, and she described it as a form of integration with the— Senator Ruston: She? Senator WONG: Sorry, the Senator described it as a form of integration— (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator Collins, first supplementary?