Defence expansion would break the budget if Australia ditches US alliance: Angus Houston

By Mark Kenny Chief Political Correspondent
Updated February 22 2017 - 4:08pm, first published February 21 2017 - 5:13pm
Sir Angus Houston addresses the National Press Club in Canberra. Photo: Andrew Meares
Sir Angus Houston addresses the National Press Club in Canberra. Photo: Andrew Meares

Scrapping the US alliance would force Australia to meet its own defence costs, hammering the federal budget, former chief of defence Angus Houston has warned, while also counselling the Turnbull government against over-reacting to China's territorial expansion in the South China Sea.