PM to deliver national security statement

Prime Minister Julia Gillard will deliver her first national security statement to Australia before the end of the year.

The prime minister’s department on Tuesday confirmed it had begun working on the statement but it was unsure if it would be delivered in parliament or at another venue.

“The PM (prime minister) has indicated publicly that a national security statement will be delivered this year and yes the department is starting preliminary work,” Rachel Noble, the acting deputy national security adviser, told a Senate estimates hearing.

Asked to specify a date for the statement, she said: “Sometime before the end of this calendar year”.

It follows a promise made in December 2008 by former prime minister Kevin Rudd to deliver an annual national security statement to parliament, an overarching document intended to guide foreign and defence policies.

Ms Noble said she was unaware of any intention to make the statement an annual event.

The Senate hearing also was told Ms Gillard did not consult with Australia’s allies before making the decision to slash $5.4 billion over four years from the defence budget.

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