Ministers across the aisle to speak at Defence Connect Budget Lunch 2022

Ministers across the aisle to speak at Defence Connect Budget Lunch 2022

Momentum Media is pleased to announce the third annual Budget Lunch, held in Canberra on Friday, 1 April.

Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price and Shadow Minister for Defence Industry Matt Keogh will both deep dive into the key issues affecting the defence industry, take delegates through the Coalition and Labour’s plans for the sector and engage in a Q&A session with the audience.

With a federal election looming later this year, the 2022 Defence Connect Budget lunch is taking place at a critical time in Australia.

It will bring together professionals from across the defence industry to hear from the nation’s key decision-makers and assess the impact of the 2022-23 federal budget on the defence industry (which would be handed down a few days prior).

It will include speakers from both sides of politics, including Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price and Shadow Minister for Defence Industry Matt Keogh, who will dive into the key issues affecting the defence industry as well as the Coalition and Labor’s plans for the sector.

Both representatives will deliver a short address before sitting down separately with MC and host Stan Grant, international affairs editor at the ABC, for a fireside chat where they will chart their plans for the defence industry in light of the federal budget and the budget response, and engage in a Q&A session with the audience.

A recent federal election survey of professionals across multiple industries and businesses conducted by Momentum Intelligence underscored the importance and influence of defence-related issues on the voting preferences of Australians.

Out of 2,482 respondents, 40 per cent cited defence and national security as the most important considerations in their decision at the ballot box.

In view of this and the federal government’s increased expenditure in defence capability, the lunch will provide the opportunity to engage directly with the decision-makers and thought leaders charged with delivering the government’s defence programs and shaping Australia’s national security.

Stan Grant will also unpack the current state of defence and global affairs, providing a wrap-up of the federal budget and interpreting the latest in federal election news in light of recent global developments.

Defence Connect editor Liam Garman underscored that with the government earmarking $270 billion for the defence industry over the coming decade, “this isn’t an event to be missed”.

“With an election shortly on the horizon, there's never been a more important time to hear from the government and opposition about their plans for Australia's defence industry,” he said.

“With national security fast becoming a core election issue, the Defence Connect Budget Lunch will give you the opportunity to engage first-hand with our key decision makers as they chart their vision for the future of our amazing industry.”

The Defence Connect Budget Lunch will be held on Friday, 1 April at Gandel Hall, Canberra at 11:30am AEDT.
Numbers for the lunch are limited and for those hoping to secure a table you will need to move quickly – with a waitlist created on a first-come, first-served basis.

Click here to buy your tickets and make sure you don’t miss out on this significant event.

Click here for more information about the event.