Minister_for_the_Army_(Australia)

Minister for Defence (Australia)

Minister for Defence (Australia)

Australian cabinet position

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]

Quick Facts Style, Member of ...

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]

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List of assistant ministers for defence

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

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Individual service branch ministers

Ministers for the Navy

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

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Ministers for the Army

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

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Ministers for Air

The following served as Minister for Air:[10]

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See also

Notes

  1. [n 1]
    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).
  2. [n 2]
    The Liberal and National Labor parties approved a coalition agreement on 13 February 1917,[11] and the new ministry was sworn on 17 February 1917.[12] The parties co-ordinated their campaign against Labor at the 1917 election,[13] and while there was some discussion of the two parties remaining separate,[14] they formally merged on 13 June 1917.[15]
  3. [n 3]
    The Parliamentary Handbook erroneously records Massy-Greene as Assistant Minister for Defence from 1921 to 1923. He was in fact the Minister for Defence.[16] He retained responsibility for Health, which he had held as Minister for Trade and Customs,[17] and was consequently titled Minister for Defence and Health.[18]
  4. [n 4]
    On 13 November 1939, early in the Second World War, Menzies divided the Defence portfolio into separate Army, Navy and Air portfolios and appointed himself Minister for Defence Coordination to oversee them.[10] Curtin retained this arrangement, but he reverted to the title Minister for Defence on 21 September 1943.[10]
  5. [n 5]
    The Parliamentary Handbook erroneously records that Ryrie ceased to be Assistant Minister for Defence, being replaced by Massy-Greene. In fact, Massy-Greene was appointed Minister for Defence, and Ryrie remained in post.[18][19]

References

  1. [1]
    "2018 Parliamentary remuneration and business resources: a quick guide". Parliament of Australia. 6 September 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  2. [2]
    Ministers, Department of Defence (19 April 2019). "Department of Defence Ministers". www.minister.defence.gov.au. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  3. [3]
    PMC, AG. "Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act". www.legislation.gov.au. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  4. [4]
    "Requirements for Annual Reports" (PDF). Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 25 June 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  5. [5]
    "Federal Register of Legislation - Australian Government". www.legislation.gov.au. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  6. [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.
  7. [7]
    "Defence policy". www.australia.gov.au. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  8. [8]
    "2016 Defence White Paper". Australian Government, Department of Defence. 2016.
  9. [9]
    The Department of Munitions was created during World War II, and existed between 11 June 1940 and April 1948.
  10. [10]
    Australian Parliamentary Library. "Ministries and Cabinets". Parliamentary Handbook (32nd ed.). Retrieved 6 September 2013.
  11. [11]
    "The National Government: Agreement Reached". The Advertiser. Adelaide. 14 February 1917. p. 7. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
  12. [12]
    "'Win the War' Party". Morning Bulletin. Rockhampton, Qld. 7 April 1917. p. 9. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  13. [13]
    "'Fusion' Campaign: Joint Committee to Fight Labor". Daily Herald. Adelaide. 4 April 1917. p. 5. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  14. [14]
    "Fawkner's New Member, Mr. Maxwell's Resolution". The Argus. Melbourne. 13 June 1917. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  15. [15]
    "'Straight Ahead' for Nationalists". The Daily News. Perth. 14 June 1917. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  16. [16]
    "The Federal Cabinet". Geraldton Guardian. Geraldton, WA. 22 December 1921. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  17. [17]
    "Reconstructed Cabinet: Mr Massy Greene's Responsibilities". Daily Herald. Adelaide. 26 December 1921. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
  18. [18]
    Billy Hughes, Prime Minister of Australia (28 June 1922). "Parliamentary Debate". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Commonwealth of Australia: House of Representatives.
  19. [19]
    "Federal Reshuffle". The Brisbane Courier. 23 December 1921. p. 3. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
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