Minister for Defence (Australia)

Minister for Defence
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

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]

  1. ^ "2018 Parliamentary remuneration and business resources: a quick guide". Parliament of Australia. 6 September 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  2. ^ Ministers, Department of Defence (19 April 2019). "Department of Defence Ministers". www.minister.defence.gov.au. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  3. ^ PMC, AG. "Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act". www.legislation.gov.au. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  4. ^ "Requirements for Annual Reports" (PDF). Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 25 June 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  5. ^ "Federal Register of Legislation - Australian Government". www.legislation.gov.au. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  6. ^ Elder, DR; Fowler, PE, eds. (June 2018). "Chapter 2: The Ministry". House of Representatives Practice (7th ed.). Canberra, Australia: Commonwealth of Australia. ISBN 978-1-74366-656-2. Retrieved 19 October 2019.

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