The real cost of war

Less than two weeks before the battle begins in Canberra—with Parliament resuming—the Coalition is keen for combat. It’s backing President Donald Trump’s call to step up defence spending. Opposition defence spokesman Angus Taylor says we are in a more uncertain time than at any other period since World War II.

Between Iran, Israel, Palestine, Ukraine, Russia and China flexing its military muscle, this is a perfectly plausible statement. Labor doesn’t necessarily disagree. But as the fight over funding and budget blowouts rages, it’s important that the political class maintains a clear-eyed view of what that money is actually spent on.

Let us not lose sight of the human face of conflict.

In early October 2015, I was on assignment in northern Afghanistan as a war correspondent. I was interviewing several general practitioners at a hospital in Kunduz who’d sacrificed six-figure salaries to work for Doctors Without Borders in one of the most dangerous parts of the world.

We deliberately conducted the filming outside the hospital to escape the noise and mayhem inside the third-world wards. Little did we know, we were also escaping death. Mid-interview, an airstrike rained down on the charity medical clinic, killing 42 people. Another 30 suffered life-altering injuries. The victims were staff, patients and family members. I vividly remember a young, inconsolable mother cradling her deceased baby in her arms. Who stole her child’s last breath? Was it ISIS? Was it the Taliban? No. It was the United States Air Force, ordered by its then Commander-in-Chief, Barack Obama.

The President issued an apology and announced America would make condolence payments of $6,000 to the families of those killed in the airstrike. Following several investigations, the Pentagon deemed it was ‘human error’ and a ‘devastating mistake’ where the intended target was a terrorist. I’m sure that’s true, and who knows how many terror attacks have been prevented via well-funded military intelligence operations.

In Australia, we possess a freedom we so often take for granted. There’s an argument our liberty and the land on which we enjoy it are worth protecting at any cost. But let’s be crystal clear on how and where that money is spent.

America is now asking Australia to up its defence spending. All NATO members, bar Spain and Australia, have agreed to increase investment to five per cent of GDP. The Trump administration has been swift to launch a war of words on the Albanese Government for falling out of line.

Last week, the Prime Minister said Labor had lifted defence spending by 57 billion dollars and would invest in the capability Australia needs. The Coalition is calling for a 3 per cent of GDP increase—to the tune of $180 billion.

While the world holds its breath on conflict spiralling in the Middle East, analysts are keeping tabs on what it could mean for major economic indicators. The cost of oil is up, and predictions are petrol prices will be too—by approximately 12 cents a litre.

Here are some other figures worthy of note. President Trump’s bunker-busting bomb and Tomahawk missile attack on Iran’s nuclear sites killed 1,000 Iranians, including 417 civilians. Iran fired back more than 550 ballistic missiles, killing 28 Israelis. More than 1,600 Israeli civilians have been killed since Hamas’ attack in October 2023. Israel’s retaliation has resulted in the death of almost 70,000 Palestinians. The UN estimates 80 per cent of those are women and children. And in the past four years, almost half a million Ukrainians have lost their lives under Russia’s invasion. Russia’s soldier death toll is close to one million.

So, here in Australia, no matter what your political allegiance, it’s worthwhile appreciating the luxury of living in a nation where we can openly debate the facts and figures, knowing we can put our head on the pillow each night without fear of deadly retribution. The toughest times may still be ahead. But we truly do live in the lucky country.