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Minister for Defence (Australia)

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]

Minister for Defence
Commonwealth Coat of Arms
Minister for Defence Pennant
Incumbent
Richard Marles
since 1 June 2022
Department of Defence
StyleThe Honourable (formal)
Minister (spoken)
Member ofParliament
Cabinet
Federal Executive Council
National Security Committee
SeatCanberra
AppointerGovernor-General
on the advice the prime minister
Term lengthAt the Governor-General's pleasure
Formation1 January 1901
First holderJames Dickson
Salary$364,406[1]
Websitewww.minister.defence.gov.au/current-ministers/2022-06/richard-marles

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:

  • Air
  • Aircraft production
  • Army
  • Defence
  • Defence Coordination
  • Defence Industry
  • Defence Materiel
  • Defence Personnel
  • Defence Production
  • Defence Science
  • Defence Support
  • Development
  • Munitions[9]
  • Navy
  • Repatriation
  • Shipping
  • Supply
  • Veterans' Affairs

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]

OrderMinisterPartyPrime MinisterTerm startTerm endTerm in office
1Sir James Dickson KCMG MP ProtectionistBarton1 January 190110 January 19019 days
2John Forrest CMG MP ProtectionistBarton17 January 190110 August 19032 years, 205 days
3Senator James Drake10 August 190324 September 190345 days
4Austin Chapman MPDeakin24 September 190327 April 1904216 days
5Senator Anderson DawsonLaborWatson27 April 190418 August 1904113 days
6James McCay MPProtectionistReid18 August 19045 July 1905321 days
7Senator Thomas PlayfordDeakin5 July 190524 January 19071 year, 203 days
8Sir Thomas Ewing KCMG MP24 January 190713 November 19081 year, 294 days
9Senator George Pearce[n 1]LaborFisher13 November 19082 June 1909201 days
10Joseph Cook MPLiberalDeakin2 June 190929 April 1910331 days
(9)Senator George Pearce[n 1]LaborFisher29 April 191024 June 19133 years, 56 days
11Senator Edward MillenLiberalCook24 June 191317 September 19141 year, 85 days
(9)Senator George Pearce[n 1]LaborFisher17 September 191427 October 19157 years, 95 days
Hughes27 October 191514 November 1916
National Labor14 November 191613 June 1917[n 2]
Nationalist13 June 191721 December 1921
12Walter Massy-Greene MP[n 3]21 December 19219 February 19231 year, 50 days
13Eric Bowden MPBruce9 February 192316 January 19251 year, 342 days
14Sir Neville Howse VC KCB KCMG MP16 January 19252 April 19272 years, 76 days
15Senator Sir William Glasgow KCB CMG DSO VD2 April 192722 October 19292 years, 203 days
16Albert Green MPLaborScullin22 October 19294 February 19311 year, 105 days
17Senator John Daly4 February 19313 March 193127 days
18Ben Chifley MP3 March 19316 January 1932309 days
(9)Senator Sir George Pearce KCVO[n 1]United
Australia		Lyons6 January 193212 October 19342 years, 279 days
19Sir Archdale Parkhill KCMG MP12 October 193420 November 19373 years, 39 days
20Joseph Lyons CH MP20 November 193729 November 19379 days
21Harold Thorby MPCountry29 November 19377 November 1938343 days
22Geoffrey Street MC MPUnited
Australia		7 November 19387 April 19391 year, 6 days
Page7 April 193926 April 1939
Menzies26 April 193913 November 1939
23Robert Menzies MP[n 4]13 November 193929 August 19411 year, 328 days
Fadden29 August 19417 October 1941
24John Curtin MP[n 4]LaborCurtin7 October 19416 July 19453 years, 272 days
25Jack Beasley MPForde6 July 194513 July 19451 year, 39 days
Chifley13 July 194514 August 1946
26Frank Forde MP15 August 19461 November 194679 days
27John Dedman MP1 November 194619 December 19493 years, 48 days
28Eric Harrison MPLiberalMenzies19 December 194924 October 1950309 days
29Sir Philip McBride KCMG MP24 October 195010 December 19588 years, 47 days
30Athol Townley MP10 December 195818 December 19635 years, 8 days
31Paul Hasluck MP18 December 196324 April 1964128 days
32Senator Sir Shane Paltridge KBE24 April 196419 January 19661 year, 270 days
33Allen Fairhall MPHolt26 January 196612 December 19673 years, 297 days
McEwen12 December 196710 January 1968
Gorton10 January 196812 November 1969
34Malcolm Fraser MP12 November 19698 March 19711 year, 116 days
35John Gorton CH MPMcMahon19 March 197113 August 1971147 days
36David Fairbairn DFC MP13 August 19715 December 19721 year, 114 days
37Lance Barnard MPLaborWhitlam5 December 19726 June 19752 years, 183 days
38Bill Morrison MP6 June 197511 November 1975158 days
39Sir James Killen KCMG MPLiberalFraser12 November 19757 May 19826 years, 176 days
40Ian Sinclair MPNational Country7 May 198216 October 1982308 days
National16 October 198211 March 1983
41Gordon Scholes MPLaborHawke11 March 198313 December 19841 year, 277 days
42Kim Beazley MP13 December 19844 April 19905 years, 112 days
43Senator Robert Ray4 April 199020 December 19915 years, 342 days
Keating20 December 199111 March 1996
44Ian McLachlan AO MPLiberalHoward11 March 199621 October 19982 years, 224 days
45John Moore MP21 October 199830 January 20012 years, 101 days
46Peter Reith MP30 January 200126 November 2001300 days
47Senator Robert Hill26 November 200120 January 20064 years, 55 days
48Brendan Nelson MP20 January 20063 December 20071 year, 317 days
49Joel Fitzgibbon MPLaborRudd3 December 20079 June 20091 year, 188 days
50Senator John Faulkner9 June 200924 June 20101 year, 97 days
Gillard24 June 201014 September 2010
51Stephen Smith MP14 September 201027 June 20133 years, 4 days
Rudd27 June 201318 September 2013
52Senator David JohnstonLiberalAbbott18 September 201323 December 20141 year, 96 days
53Kevin Andrews MP23 December 201415 September 2015272 days
Turnbull15 September 201521 September 2015
54Senator Marise Payne21 September 201524 August 20182 years, 341 days
Morrison24 August 201828 August 2018
55Christopher Pyne MP28 August 201826 May 2019271 days
56Senator Linda Reynolds CSC29 May 201930 March 20211 year, 305 days
57Peter Dutton MP30 March 202123 May 20221 year, 54 days
58Richard Marles MPLaborAlbanese1 June 2022Incumbent1 year, 331 days

List of assistant ministers for defence

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

OrderMinisterPartyPrime MinisterTitleTerm startTerm endTerm in office
1Granville Ryrie MP[n 5]NationalistHughesAssistant Minister for Defence4 February 1920 (1920-02-04)5 February 1923 (1923-02-05)3 years, 1 day
2Josiah FrancisUnited AustraliaLyonsAssistant Minister for Defence6 January 1932 (1932-01-06)12 October 1934 (1934-10-12)2 years, 279 days
3Reg BishopLaborWhitlamMinister assisting the Minister for Defence19 December 197212 June 19741 year, 175 days
4John McLeayLiberalFraserMinister assisting the Minister for Defence22 December 19753 November 19804 years, 317 days
5Kevin Newman3 November 19807 May 19821 year, 185 days
6Bruce ScottNationalHowardMinister assisting the Minister for Defence21 October 199826 November 20013 years, 36 days
7Danna ValeLiberal26 November 20017 October 20031 year, 315 days
8Mal Brough7 October 200318 July 2004285 days
9Fran Bailey18 July 200422 October 2004285 days
10De-Anne KellyNational22 October 200427 January 20061 year, 97 days
11Bruce BillsonLiberal27 January 20063 December 20071 year, 310 days
12Stuart Robert LiberalAbbottAssistant Minister for Defence18 September 2013 (2013-09-18)15 September 2015 (2015-09-15)2 years, 3 days
Turnbull15 September 2015 (2015-09-15)21 September 2015 (2015-09-21)
13Darren ChesterNational21 September 2015 (2015-09-21)18 February 2016 (2016-02-18)150 days
14Michael McCormack18 February 2016 (2016-02-18)19 July 2016 (2016-07-19)152 days
15David FawcettLiberalMorrisonAssistant Minister for Defence26 August 2018 (2018-08-26)29 May 2019 (2019-05-29)276 days
16Alex Hawke29 May 2019 (2019-05-29)22 December 2020 (2020-12-22)1 year, 207 days
16Andrew Hastie22 December 2020 (2020-12-22)23 May 2022 (2022-05-23)1 year, 152 days
17Matt Thistlethwaite LaborAlbanese1 June 2022 (2022-06-01)Incumbent1 year, 331 days

Individual service branch ministers

Ministers for the Navy

The following served as Minister for the Navy:[10]

OrderMinisterPartyPrime MinisterTerm startTerm endTerm in office
1Jens Jensen MP LaborFisher12 July 191527 October 19151 year, 220 days
Hughes27 October 191514 November 1916
National Labor14 November 191617 February 1917
2Joseph Cook MPCommonwealth
Liberal[n 2]		17 February 191713 June 19173 years, 162 days
Nationalist13 June 191728 July 1920
3William Laird Smith MP28 July 192021 December 19211 year, 146 days
4Frederick Stewart MPUnited
Australia		Menzies13 November 193914 March 1940122 days
5Archie Cameron MPCountry14 March 194028 October 1940228 days
6Billy Hughes MPUnited
Australia		28 October 194029 August 1941344 days
Fadden29 August 19417 October 1941
7Norman Makin MPLaborCurtin7 October 19416 July 19454 years, 312 days
Forde6 July 194513 July 1945
Chifley13 July 194515 August 1946
8Arthur Drakeford MP15 August 19461 November 194678 days
9Bill Riordan MP1 November 194619 December 19493 years, 48 days
10Josiah Francis MPLiberalMenzies19 December 194911 May 19511 year, 143 days
11Philip McBride MP11 May 195117 July 195167 days
12William McMahon MP17 July 19519 July 19542 years, 357 days
(10)Josiah Francis MP9 July 195411 July 19551 year, 2 days
13Eric Harrison MP11 July 195511 January 1956184 days
14Senator Neil O'Sullivan11 January 195624 October 1956287 days
15Charles Davidson MPCountry24 October 195610 December 19582 years, 47 days
16Senator John GortonLiberal10 December 195818 December 19635 years, 8 days
17Jim Forbes MP18 December 19634 March 196477 days
18Fred Chaney, Sr. MP4 March 196426 January 19662 years, 285 days
Holt26 January 196614 December 1966
19Don Chipp MP14 December 196619 December 19671 year, 76 days
McEwen19 December 196710 January 1968
Gorton10 January 196828 February 1968
20Bert Kelly MP28 February 196812 November 19691 year, 257 days
21James Killen MP12 November 196910 March 19711 year, 130 days
McMahon10 March 197122 March 1971
22Malcolm Mackay MP22 March 19715 December 19721 year, 258 days
23Lance Barnard MPLaborWhitlam5 December 197230 November 1973360 days

Ministers for the Army

The following served as Minister for the Army:[10]

OrderMinisterPartyPrime MinisterTerm startTerm endTerm in office
1Geoffrey Street MP United
Australia		Menzies13 November 193928 October 1940350 days
2Senator Percy Spender28 October 194029 August 1941344 days
Fadden29 August 19417 October 1941
3Frank Forde MPLaborCurtin7 October 19416 July 19455 years, 25 days
Forde6 July 194513 July 1945
Chifley13 July 19451 November 1946
4Cyril Chambers MP1 November 194619 December 19493 years, 48 days
5Josiah Francis MPLiberalMenzies19 December 19497 November 19555 years, 323 days
6Eric Harrison MP7 November 195528 February 1956113 days
7John Cramer MP28 February 195618 December 19637 years, 293 days
8Jim Forbes MP18 December 196326 January 19662 years, 39 days
9Malcolm Fraser MPHolt26 January 196619 December 19672 years, 33 days
McEwen19 December 196710 January 1968
Gorton10 January 196828 February 1968
10Phillip Lynch MP28 February 196812 November 19691 year, 257 days
11Andrew Peacock MP12 November 196910 March 19712 years, 82 days
McMahon10 March 19712 February 1972
12Bob Katter, Sr. MPCountry2 February 19725 December 1972309 days
13Lance Barnard MPLaborWhitlam5 December 197230 November 1973360 days

Ministers for Air

The following served as Minister for Air:[10]

OrderMinisterPartyPrime MinisterTerm startTerm endTerm in office
1James Fairbairn MP United
Australia		Menzies13 November 193913 August 1940274 days
2Arthur Fadden MPCountry14 August 194028 October 194075 days
3John McEwen MP28 October 194029 August 1941344 days
Fadden29 August 19417 October 1941
4Arthur Drakeford MPLaborCurtin7 October 19416 July 19458 years, 73 days
Forde6 July 194513 July 1945
Chifley13 July 194519 December 1949
5Thomas White MPLiberalMenzies19 December 194911 May 19511 year, 143 days
6Philip McBride MP11 May 195117 July 195167 days
7William McMahon MP17 July 19519 July 19542 years, 357 days
8Athol Townley MP9 July 195424 October 19562 years, 107 days
9Frederick Osborne MP24 October 195629 December 19604 years, 66 days
10Senator Harrie Wade29 December 196022 December 1961358 days
11Les Bury MP22 December 196127 July 1962217 days
12David Fairbairn MP27 July 196210 June 19641 year, 319 days
13Peter Howson MP10 June 196426 January 19663 years, 263 days
Holt26 January 196619 December 1967
McEwen19 December 196710 January 1968
Gorton10 January 196828 February 1968
14Gordon Freeth MP28 February 196813 February 1969351 days
15Dudley Erwin MP13 February 196912 November 1969272 days
16Senator Tom Drake-BrockmanCountry12 November 196910 March 19713 years, 23 days
McMahon10 March 19715 December 1972
17Lance Barnard MPLaborWhitlam5 December 197230 November 1973360 days

See also

Notes

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ministers of Defence of Australia.
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