Minister for Defence (Australia) explained

Post:Minister for Defence
Insignia:Coat_of_Arms_of_Australia.svg
Insigniacaption:Commonwealth Coat of Arms
Flag:Australian Minister for Defence Flag.jpg
Flagcaption:Ministerial Pennant
Flagborder:yes
Incumbent:Richard Marles
Incumbentsince:1 June 2022
Department:Department of Defence
Style:The Honourable (formal)
Minister (spoken)
Member Of:Parliament
Cabinet
Federal Executive Council
National Security Committee
Seat:Canberra
Appointer:Governor-General
Appointer Qualified:on the advice the prime minister
Termlength:At the Governor-General's pleasure
Formation:1 January 1901
First:James Dickson
Salary:$364,406[1]

The minister for Defence, also known as the Defence minister, is the minister of state of the Commonwealth of Australia charged with overseeing the organisation, implementation, and formulation of strategic policy in defence and military matters as the head of the Department of Defence. The Defence minister directs the government’s approach to the Australian Defence Organisation and the Australian Defence Force.[2] The current Defence minister is Richard Marles, who is concurrently serving as deputy prime minister of Australia, he was selected by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in May 2022 following the 2022 Australian federal election.[3]

As the Minister for Defence is responsible for the executive management of Australia's defence and military forces and the portfolio's accountability to the Parliament, the Secretary of Defence is required under section 63(1) of the Public Service Act 1999 and the Requirements for Annual Reports from the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Public Accounts and Audit to submit a report to the responsible ministers on the activities of the Department of Defence after the end of each financial year for presentation to the Parliament.[4] [5]

It is one of only four ministerial positions (along with Prime Minister, Attorney-General and Treasurer) that have existed since Federation.[6]

Defence policy

The primary function of the Minister for Defence is to direct the formulation of the government's defence policy relating to the universal conduct of any entity of the Australian Government, or working on behalf of the Australian Government, and the agencies and personnel of the Australian Defence Organisation as a whole. The Australian Government operates three principal entities responsible for creating and maintaining defence policy within the 'Defence' superstructure: the Air Power Development Centre, Australian Strategic Policy Institute, and Sea Power Centre - Australia.[7] Additionally, the Australian Government, often at the direct request of the Prime Minister, will expend extensive introspective resources for the publication of Defence white papers so as to assess the current extent of Australia's defence capabilities and infrastructure and investigate the best manner of improving Defence in such a way that will positively inform the government's policy.[8]

The most recent white paper publication is the 2016 Defence White Paper that includes three elements: the 2016 Defence White Paper itself, 2016 Integrated Investment Program, and 2016 Defence Industry Policy Statement. Presented on 24 February 2016 and published the same day, it is the eighth defence whitepaper since 1976 and defined three key strategic objectives that the defence portfolios and governments of both parties have had little debate over. Recent Ministers for Defence for both political parties have typically formed their policy around the strict and professional advice of Australia's leading policy experts and senior military personnel and has generally caused little controversy.

Composition of the defence portfolio

Over the years there have been a number of ministers with a variety of functions involved in the defence portfolio; in the period November 1939 to April 1942, there was no position named "Minister of Defence". Instead, several ministers were responsible for the various tasks and duties that are presently under the purview of the Minister for Defence.

Previous governments have included ministers with titles using one or more of the following terms:

List of ministers for defence

There was a Minister for Defence from 1 January 1901 until 13 November 1939, with the exception of two small breaks. Robert Menzies, the Prime Minister, abolished the position on the outbreak of World War II and created separate Ministers for the Navy, the Army and the Air, with himself as Minister for Defence Coordination in his first ministry. He retained this position until the fall of his government, and then held the post in the brief government of Arthur Fadden. John Curtin initially followed the same arrangement as Menzies in his ministry until 14 April 1942, when he took the title of Minister for Defence. The separate titles of Ministers for the Navy, the Army and the Air were abolished in the second Whitlam Ministry on 30 November 1973, when the separate departments of Navy, Army and Air were also abolished. There had also been a separate Navy portfolio between 1915 and 1921.

The following have served as Minister for Defence:[10]

width=5 Orderwidth=350 Ministerwidth=150 colspan=2 Partywidth=75 Prime Ministerwidth=140 Term startwidth= 140 Term endwidth=130 Term in office
align=center 1 ProtectionistBartonalign=center 1 January 1901align=center 10 January 1901align=right days
align=center align=center 2 ProtectionistBartonalign=center 17 January 1901align=center 10 August 1903align=right
align=center 3Senator James Drakealign=center 10 August 1903align=center align=center 24 September 1903align=right days
align=center 4Deakinalign=center align=center 24 September 1903align=center align=center 27 April 1904align=right days
align=center 5Senator Anderson DawsonLaborWatsonalign=center align=center 27 April 1904align=center 18 August 1904align=right days
align=center 6ProtectionistReidalign=center 18 August 1904align=center 5 July 1905align=right days
align=center 7Senator Thomas PlayfordDeakinalign=center 5 July 1905align=center align=center 24 January 1907align=right
align=center 8align=center align=center 24 January 1907align=center 13 November 1908align=right
align=center 9Senator George Pearce[11] LaborFisheralign=center 13 November 1908align=center align=center 2 June 1909align=right days
align=center 10LiberalDeakinalign=center align=center 2 June 1909align=center align=center 29 April 1910align=right days
align=center (9)Senator George PearceLaborFisheralign=center align=center 29 April 1910align=center align=center 24 June 1913align=right
align=center 11Senator Edward MillenLiberalCookalign=center align=center 24 June 1913align=center 17 September 1914align=right
(9)Senator George PearceLaborFisheralign=center 17 September 1914align=center align=center 27 October 1915
Hughesalign=center align=center 27 October 1915align=center 14 November 1916
National Laboralign=center 14 November 1916align=center 13 June 1917
Nationalistalign=center 13 June 1917align=center align=center 21 December 1921
align=center 12align=center align=center 21 December 1921align=center 9 February 1923align=right
align=center 13Brucealign=center 9 February 1923align=center 16 January 1925align=right
align=center 14align=center 16 January 1925align=center align=center 2 April 1927align=right
align=center 15align=center align=center 2 April 1927align=center align=center 22 October 1929align=right
align=center 16LaborScullinalign=center align=center 22 October 1929align=center 4 February 1931align=right
align=center 17Senator John Dalyalign=center 4 February 1931align=center 3 March 1931align=right days
align=center 18align=center 3 March 1931align=center 6 January 1932align=right days
align=center (9)United
Australia		Lyonsalign=center 6 January 1932align=center 12 October 1934align=right
align=center 19align=center 12 October 1934align=center align=center 20 November 1937align=right
align=center 20align=center align=center 20 November 1937align=center align=center 29 November 1937align=right days
align=center align=center 21Countryalign=center align=center 29 November 1937align=center 7 November 1938align=right days
22United
Australia		align=center 7 November 1938align=center 7 April 1939
Pagealign=center 7 April 1939align=center align=center 26 April 1939
Menziesalign=center align=center 26 April 1939align=center 13 November 1939
23align=center 13 November 1939align=center align=center 29 August 1941
Faddenalign=center align=center 29 August 1941align=center 7 October 1941
align=center align=center 24LaborCurtinalign=center 7 October 1941align=center 6 July 1945align=right
25Fordealign=center 6 July 1945align=center 13 July 1945
Chifleyalign=center 13 July 1945align=center 14 August 1946
align=center align=center 26align=center 15 August 1946align=center 1 November 1946align=right days
align=center align=center 27align=center 1 November 1946align=center 19 December 1949align=right
align=center align=center 28LiberalMenziesalign=center 19 December 1949align=center align=center 24 October 1950align=right days
align=center align=center 29align=center align=center 24 October 1950align=center 10 December 1958align=right
align=center align=center 30align=center 10 December 1958align=center 18 December 1963align=right
align=center 31align=center 18 December 1963align=center align=center 24 April 1964align=right days
align=center 32align=center align=center 24 April 1964align=center 19 January 1966align=right
33Holtalign=center 26 January 1966align=center 12 December 1967
McEwenalign=center 12 December 1967align=center 10 January 1968
Gortonalign=center 10 January 1968align=center 12 November 1969
align=center 34align=center 12 November 1969align=center 8 March 1971align=right
align=center 35McMahonalign=center 19 March 1971align=center 13 August 1971align=right days
align=center 36align=center 13 August 1971align=center 5 December 1972align=right
align=center 37LaborWhitlamalign=center 5 December 1972align=center 6 June 1975align=right
align=center 38align=center 6 June 1975align=center 11 November 1975align=right days
align=center 39LiberalFraseralign=center 12 November 1975align=center 7 May 1982align=right
40National Countryalign=center 7 May 1982align=center 16 October 1982 days
Nationalalign=center 16 October 1982align=center 11 March 1983
align=center 41LaborHawkealign=center 11 March 1983align=center 13 December 1984align=right
align=center 42align=center 13 December 1984align=center 4 April 1990align=right
43Senator Robert Rayalign=center 4 April 1990align=center align=center 20 December 1991
Keatingalign=center align=center 20 December 1991align=center 11 March 1996
align=center 44LiberalHowardalign=center 11 March 1996align=center align=center 21 October 1998align=right
align=center 45align=center align=center 21 October 1998align=center 30 January 2001align=right
align=center 46align=center 30 January 2001align=center align=center 26 November 2001align=right days
align=center 47Senator Robert Hillalign=center align=center 26 November 2001align=center align=center 20 January 2006align=right
align=center 48align=center align=center 20 January 2006align=center 3 December 2007align=right
align=center 49LaborRuddalign=center 3 December 2007align=center 9 June 2009align=right
50Senator John Faulkneralign=center 9 June 2009align=center align=center 24 June 2010
Gillardalign=center align=center 24 June 2010align=center 14 September 2010
51align=center 14 September 2010align=center 27 June 2013
Ruddalign=center 27 June 2013align=center 18 September 2013
align=center 52Senator David JohnstonLiberalAbbottalign=center 18 September 2013align=center 23 December 2014align=right
53align=center 23 December 2014align=center 15 September 2015
Turnbullalign=center 15 September 201521 September 2015
54Senator Marise Paynealign=center 21 September 2015align=center 24 August 2018
Morrisonalign=center 24 August 2018align=center 28 August 2018
55align=center 28 August 2018align=center 26 May 2019
56align=center 29 May 2019align=center 30 March 2021
57align=center 30 March 2021align=center 23 May 2022
58LaborAlbanesealign=center 1 June 2022align=center Incumbent

List of assistant ministers for defence

The following individuals have been appointed as Assistant Minister for Defence, or any of its precedent titles:[10]

width=5 Orderwidth=150 Ministerwidth=125 colspan=2 Partywidth=75 Prime Ministerwidth=325 Titlewidth=150 Term startwidth=150 Term endwidth=130 Term in office
1NationalistHughesAssistant Minister for Defencealign=center align=center align=right
2Josiah FrancisUnited AustraliaLyonsAssistant Minister for Defencealign=center align=center align=right
align=center 3Reg BishopLaborWhitlamMinister assisting the Minister for Defencealign=center 19 December 1972align=center 12 June 1974align=right
4John McLeayLiberalFraserMinister assisting the Minister for Defencealign=center 22 December 1975align=center 3 November 1980align=right
5Kevin Newmanalign=center 3 November 1980align=center 7 May 1982align=right
6Bruce ScottNationalHowardMinister assisting the Minister for Defencealign=center 21 October 1998align=center 26 November 2001align=right
7Danna ValeLiberalalign=center 26 November 2001align=center 7 October 2003align=right
8Mal Broughalign=center 7 October 2003align=center 18 July 2004align=right days
9Fran Baileyalign=center 18 July 2004align=center 22 October 2004align=right days
10De-Anne KellyNationalalign=center 22 October 2004align=center 27 January 2006align=right
11Bruce BillsonLiberalalign=center 27 January 2006align=center 3 December 2007align=right
12Stuart Robert LiberalAbbottAssistant Minister for Defencealign=center align=center
Turnbullalign=center align=center
13Darren ChesterNationalalign=center align=center align=right
14Michael McCormackalign=center align=center align=right
15David FawcettLiberalMorrisonAssistant Minister for Defencealign=center align=center align=right
16Alex Hawkealign=center align=center align=right
16Andrew Hastiealign=center align=center align=right
17 Matt Thistlethwaite LaborAlbanesealign=center align=center Incumbentalign=right

Individual service branch ministers

Ministers for the Navy

The following served as Minister for the Navy:

width=5 Orderwidth=200 Ministerwidth=100 colspan=2 Partywidth=75 Prime Ministerwidth=120 Term startwidth=120 Term endwidth=130 Term in office
1 LaborFisheralign=center 12 July 1915align=center 27 October 1915
Hughesalign=center 27 October 1915align=center 14 November 1916
National Laboralign=center 14 November 1916align=center 17 February 1917
2Commonwealth
Liberal		align=center 17 February 1917align=center 13 June 1917
Nationalistalign=center 13 June 1917align=center 28 July 1920
align=center 3align=center 28 July 1920align=center 21 December 1921align=right
align=center 4United
Australia		Menziesalign=center 13 November 1939align=center 14 March 1940align=right days
align=center 5Countryalign=center 14 March 1940align=center 28 October 1940align=right days
6United
Australia		align=center 28 October 1940align=center 29 August 1941 days
Faddenalign=center 29 August 1941align=center 7 October 1941
7LaborCurtinalign=center 7 October 1941align=center 6 July 1945
Fordealign=center 6 July 1945align=center 13 July 1945
Chifleyalign=center 13 July 1945align=center 15 August 1946
align=center 8align=center 15 August 1946align=center 1 November 1946align=right days
align=center 9align=center 1 November 1946align=center 19 December 1949align=right
align=center 10LiberalMenziesalign=center 19 December 1949align=center 11 May 1951align=right
align=center 11align=center 11 May 1951align=center 17 July 1951align=right days
align=center 12align=center 17 July 1951align=center 9 July 1954align=right
(10)align=center 9 July 1954align=center 11 July 1955align=right
align=center 13align=center 11 July 1955align=center 11 January 1956align=right days
align=center 14Senator Neil O'Sullivanalign=center 11 January 1956align=center 24 October 1956align=right days
align=center 15Countryalign=center 24 October 1956align=center 10 December 1958align=right
align=center 16Senator John GortonLiberalalign=center 10 December 1958align=center 18 December 1963align=right
align=center 17align=center 18 December 1963align=center 4 March 1964align=right days
18align=center 4 March 1964align=center 26 January 1966
Holtalign=center 26 January 1966align=center 14 December 1966
19align=center 14 December 1966align=center 19 December 1967
McEwenalign=center 19 December 1967align=center 10 January 1968
Gortonalign=center 10 January 1968align=center 28 February 1968
align=center 20align=center 28 February 1968align=center 12 November 1969align=right
21align=center 12 November 1969align=center 10 March 1971
McMahonalign=center 10 March 1971align=center 22 March 1971
align=center 22align=center 22 March 1971align=center 5 December 1972align=right
align=center 23LaborWhitlamalign=center 5 December 1972align=center 30 November 1973align=right days

Ministers for the Army

The following served as Minister for the Army:

width=5 Orderwidth=200 Ministerwidth=70 colspan=2 Partywidth=75 Prime Ministerwidth=120 Term startwidth=120 Term endwidth=130 Term in office
align=center 1 United
Australia		Menziesalign=center 13 November 1939align=center 28 October 1940align=right days
2Senator Percy Spenderalign=center 28 October 1940align=center 29 August 1941 days
Faddenalign=center 29 August 1941align=center 7 October 1941
3LaborCurtinalign=center 7 October 1941align=center 6 July 1945
Fordealign=center 6 July 1945align=center 13 July 1945
Chifleyalign=center 13 July 1945align=center 1 November 1946
align=center 4align=center 1 November 1946align=center 19 December 1949align=right
align=center 5LiberalMenziesalign=center 19 December 1949align=center 7 November 1955align=right
align=center 6align=center 7 November 1955align=center 28 February 1956align=right days
align=center 7align=center 28 February 1956align=center 18 December 1963align=right
align=center 8align=center 18 December 1963align=center 26 January 1966align=right
9Holtalign=center 26 January 1966align=center 19 December 1967
McEwenalign=center 19 December 1967align=center 10 January 1968
Gortonalign=center 10 January 1968align=center 28 February 1968
align=center 10align=center 28 February 1968align=center 12 November 1969align=right
11align=center 12 November 1969align=center 10 March 1971
McMahonalign=center 10 March 1971align=center 2 February 1972
align=center 12Countryalign=center 2 February 1972align=center 5 December 1972align=right days
align=center 13LaborWhitlamalign=center 5 December 1972align=center 30 November 1973align=right days

Ministers for Air

The following served as Minister for Air:

width=5 Orderwidth=200 Ministerwidth=70 colspan=2 Partywidth=75 Prime Ministerwidth=120 Term startwidth=120 Term endwidth=130 Term in office
align=center 1 United
Australia		Menziesalign=center 13 November 1939align=center 13 August 1940align=right days
align=center 2Countryalign=center 14 August 1940align=center 28 October 1940align=right days
3align=center 28 October 1940align=center 29 August 1941 days
Faddenalign=center 29 August 1941align=center 7 October 1941
4LaborCurtinalign=center 7 October 1941align=center 6 July 1945
Fordealign=center 6 July 1945align=center 13 July 1945
Chifleyalign=center 13 July 1945align=center 19 December 1949
align=center 5LiberalMenziesalign=center 19 December 1949align=center 11 May 1951align=right
align=center 6align=center 11 May 1951align=center 17 July 1951align=right days
align=center 7align=center 17 July 1951align=center 9 July 1954align=right
align=center 8align=center 9 July 1954align=center 24 October 1956align=right
align=center 9align=center 24 October 1956align=center 29 December 1960align=right
align=center 10Senator Harrie Wadealign=center 29 December 1960align=center 22 December 1961align=right days
align=center 11align=center 22 December 1961align=center 27 July 1962align=right days
align=center 12align=center 27 July 1962align=center 10 June 1964align=right
13align=center 10 June 1964align=center 26 January 1966
Holtalign=center 26 January 1966align=center 19 December 1967
McEwenalign=center 19 December 1967align=center 10 January 1968
Gortonalign=center 10 January 1968align=center 28 February 1968
align=center 14align=center 28 February 1968align=center 13 February 1969align=right days
align=center 15align=center 13 February 1969align=center 12 November 1969align=right days
16Senator Tom Drake-BrockmanCountryalign=center 12 November 1969align=center 10 March 1971
McMahonalign=center 10 March 1971align=center 5 December 1972
align=center 17LaborWhitlamalign=center 5 December 1972align=center 30 November 1973align=right days

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2018 Parliamentary remuneration and business resources: a quick guide. 6 September 2018. Parliament of Australia. 15 June 2019.
  2. Web site: Department of Defence Ministers. Ministers. Department of Defence. 2019-04-19. www.minister.defence.gov.au. en. 2019-04-19.
  3. Web site: Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act. PMC. AG. www.legislation.gov.au. en. 2019-04-19.
  4. Web site: Requirements for Annual Reports. 25 June 2015. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 2019-04-19.
  5. Web site: Federal Register of Legislation - Australian Government. www.legislation.gov.au. 2019-04-19.
  6. Book: Elder . DR . Fowler . PE . House of Representatives Practice . June 2018 . Commonwealth of Australia . Canberra, Australia . 978-1-74366-656-2 . 7th . https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/House_of_Representatives/Powers_practice_and_procedure/Practice7/HTML/Chapter2/The_Ministry . 19 October 2019 . en-AU . Chapter 2: The Ministry.
  7. Web site: Defence policy. www.australia.gov.au. 2019-04-19.
  8. Web site: 2016 Defence White Paper. 2016. Australian Government, Department of Defence.
  9. The Department of Munitions was created during World War II, and existed between 11 June 1940 and April 1948.
  10. Book: http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;adv=yes;db=HANDBOOK;id=handbook%2Fnewhandbook%2F2011-10-13%2F0063;orderBy=customrank;page=0;query=parliamentary%2Bhandbook%20SearchCategory_Phrase%3A%22publications%22;rec=14;resCount=Default . Parliamentary Handbook . Ministries and Cabinets . Australian Parliamentary Library . 32nd . 6 September 2013.
  11. Although McBride served the longest continuously, Pearce had the longest combined service at more than 13 years, and as a member of four parties (Labor, National Labor, Nationalist, and UAP).

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