Starting a new thread for those following defence #estimates this afternoon. Wong asks how much Defence is spending on contractors? Officials say they spent $1.873 billion last financial year. That figure has shot up over last few years 1/
https://twitter.com/stephendziedzic/status/1453136986399645702
Wong raises this study by @ASPI_org which suggests that on average a Defence contractor is being paid a salary of $283,000 - around double the average Defence APS salary of $121,000 2/ 
Officials say the ASPI calculation is not wrong but it's not entirely fair because it's not a "like for like" comparison. Still they agree that on the whole contractors are more expensive. They give several explanations: for eg, they bring a specialist skillset (eg ICT) 3/
Latest figures on former Afghan guards and interpreters (locally engaged employees) who have applied for or been granted asylum in Australia. They've assessed 1600 applicants. 677 eligible. 516 ineligible. 356 declined to continue process. 70 cases still outstanding 4/
Labor Senator Kimberley Kitching asks about China's growing military heft and why - in that context - Australia is moving to purchase nuclear powered submarines. There's a fairly long pause. Officials at the table regard the question with visible unease 5/
Moriarty sticks very closely to talking points. He says the submarines "will allow us to make a stronger contribution to regional security." The CDF says while focussing on one nation's capabilities can be "instructive" it can also "narrow thinking" 6/
The CDF runs through the raw numbers. All this stuff is on the public record. PLA is a force of two million people. Approximately 350 combat vessels in the PLA navy. By number the largest navy in the world. More than 1250 ground based ballistic and cruise missile systems 7/
Now China's recent test of a nuclear-capable hypersonic missile. Officials say they can't offer much in a public forum. The CDF keeps it broad, but says the test demonstrates some of the challenges facing the region - full answer below 8/
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