By Tess Ikonomou and Andrew Brown in Canberra

Australians are being lulled into a false sense of security about threats of conflict, a coalition senator says, as he calls for more transparency on risks to defence.

In a major speech to the National Press Club on Tuesday, opposition defence spokesman James Paterson said military leadership and the government needed to be more forthcoming on looming dangers.

He said openness would allow the public to be more on board with rises in military spending in coming years.

“If the Australian public knew how likely conflict is in our own region in the near future, and how ill-prepared we were for it, they would be marching in the streets demanding higher defence spending,” he said in the address.

“Instead of being honest with the Australian people about the threat and our preparedness, they are being lulled into a false sense of security.”

Senator Paterson said a way to lay out the threats would be an annual address by the chief of the defence force on the security challenges.

Such a speech would be similar to the annual threat assessment done by ASIO head Mike Burgess.

“The government should be more candid, more often about just how dire our strategic circumstances are. And they need not bear this burden alone,” he said.

“Australians are hungry for more candour about the dangers we face and they are entitled to it.”

The speech comes after the government revealed its defence strategy, which outlined an extra $53 billion for the sector.

Defence Minister Richard Marles said the extra money would mean defence spending is lifted to three per cent of GDP, which Senator Paterson said was being artificially inflated by including aspects like military pensions.

“We can navigate our way through these turbulent times – but only with a real, significant and urgent increase in defence spending,” he said.

“Pretending we are now spending three per cent of GDP isn’t going to fix it.”

The speech came as it was announced Australia will buy almost 50 extra American-made rocket launch systems, in addition to missiles being used by the US in its war against Iran.

The government announced it has chosen US defence giant Lockheed Martin’s high mobility artillery rocket system to provide the Australian army with long-range strike capability.

The precision strike missile, being co-developed between Australia and the US, will have a range of more than 1000km.

The United States is using the rocket launch systems and the missiles in the conflict in the Middle East.

A $2.3 billion commitment over the decade will deliver the 48 new rocket launch systems, a second long-range fires regiment at the Edinburgh Defence Precinct in SA, and to equip that regiment with precision strike missiles.

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