“... when we compare the Howard years with the Rudd-Gillard years, both — all governments spent 1.7 per cent to 1.8 per cent of GDP [on defence] on average.”
What RMIT ABC Fact Check found
Mr O'Connor's claim is a fair call. Fact Check extracted defence spending figures from the Defence Portfolio Estimates Statements and Defence Annual Reports. The figures showed the Howard government spent an annual average of 1.77 per cent of GDP on defence, compared with 1.72 per cent under the Rudd-Gillard government.
Their words, from the summary they publish with the rating.
In short
Brendan O'Connor (Shadow Defence Minister) made this claim around 13 March 2022. RMIT ABC Fact Check (Australia) looked into it and published its finding on 20 April 2022, 38 days later. Its rating was “Fair call”.
Where the claim appeared
Links recorded by RMIT ABC Fact Check. Some posts may have been deleted since.
This check was done by RMIT ABC Fact Check, not by DoesItStand. We list it so you can find it. Their full evidence and reasoning are in their article.