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The Hon. Clare O'Neil MP is the Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Cyber Security and the Federal Member for Hotham. Clare was first elected to the House of Representatives for Hotham, Victoria in 2013.

The Hon. Matt Thistlethwaite MP is the Assistant Minister for Defence, Assistant Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Assistant Minister for the Republic and the Federal Member for Kingsford Smith. Matt was an Australian Senator from 2011-2013 and elected to the House of Representatives for Kingsford Smith, New South Wales in 2013.

Minister Dutton was sworn in as the Minister for Defence on 30 March 2021.

Minister Price was sworn in as the Minister for Defence Industry on 29 May 2019 and as the Minister for Science and Technology on 8 October 2021. The Minister and the Defence Industry portfolio were elevated to Cabinet on 30 March 2021. First elected to the Australian Parliament in 2013 as the Member for Durack – the largest electorate in Australia.  Minister Price has previously served in the Environment portfolio and has held a number of Parliamentary Committee roles including the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade.  A lawyer by profession, Minister Price brings over 20 years of experience in the private sector from a variety of commercial and legal roles.  She has also supported the community through working with the not-for-profit sector.

Andrew Gee was appointed the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and the Minister for Defence Personnel on 2 July 2021. Andrew was born in Wagga Wagga and raised in Maitland, where his father was the local mayor. He studied Economics and Law at Sydney University where he met his wife Christina. They have four children.

Assistant Minister Hastie was sworn in as the Assistant Minister for Defence on 22 December 2020. Assistant Minister Hastie was elected to represent the electorate of Canning in the House of Representatives in 2015 and again in 2016 and 2019. Assistant Minister Hastie served in the Australian Defence Force from 2003 to 2015, deploying to various theatres in the Middle East and Indo-Pacific. Assistant Minister Hastie served as Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security from January 2017 to December 2020. His work in this capacity focused on national security, including counter-terrorism, espionage and foreign interference.

Minister Chester was sworn in for a second term as Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel on 29 May 2019, with the portfolio being elevated to Cabinet on 6 February 2020. In his previous term, Minister Chester also served as the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of Anzac. In February 2016, Minister Chester was appointed to Cabinet as the Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. He served for three months on the backbench from December 2017 to February 2018. Minister Chester is the member for Gippsland, Victoria, and was first elected to Federal Parliament on June 26, 2008.

Minister Reynolds was sworn in as the Minister for Defence on 29 May 2019. Minister Reynolds served for 29 years in the Australian Army as a Reserve Officer in a wide range of part and full time appointments. She was the first woman in the Australian Army Reserves to be promoted to the rank of Brigadier and was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross.  Minister Reynolds was elected to the Australian Senate in 2014 and again in 2019.

Minister Hawke was sworn in as the Assistant Defence Minister on 29 May 2019. He was elected at the 2007 election as the Federal Member for Mitchell, an electorate centred on the Hills Shire in Northwest Sydney. In September 2015, Minister Hawke was appointed as the Assistant Minister to the Treasurer. Following the 2016 Federal Election Minister Hawke was appointed the Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection. Due to the establishment of the Home Affairs Portfolio in late 2017, Minister Hawke was appointed the Assistant Minister for Home Affairs. On 27 August 2018, he was officially sworn in as the Special Minister of State. Minister Hawke served as an Army Reserve Officer in the Royal Australian Armoured Corps from 1995 to 2000.

David Julian Fawcett (BSc, MBA, MAICD, QTP, psc) served in the Australian Defence Force for over 22 years. An Army pilot, he flew helicopters and fixed wing aircraft and was the Senior Flying Instructor at the School of Army Aviation in Queensland.  Graduating as an experimental test pilot from the Empire Test Pilots’ School (UK), he finished his full time career in Defence as the Commanding Officer of the RAAF Aircraft Research and Development Unit. 

Linda Reynolds was sworn in as the Minister for Defence Industry on 2 March 2019. As a member of Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s Cabinet, she is responsible for the Government’s plan, outlined in the 2016 Defence White Paper, to invest $195 billion in building Australia’s Defence capability over the next 10 years. Linda was elected to the Australian Senate in 2014.

Christopher Pyne was sworn in as the Minister for Defence on 28 August 2018. Prior to his appointment, Christopher served as  Minister for Defence Industry where he was responsible for delivering the $200 billion worth of investment in Australia’s defence capabilities outlined in the Defence White Paper and having the nation grasp this once in a generation opportunity to maximise job creation, business development, and economic growth.

Steven Ciobo was sworn in as the Minister for Defence Industry on 28 August 2018. A member of Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s Cabinet, he is responsible for the Government’s plan, outlined in the 2016 Defence White Paper, to invest $195 billion in building Australia’s Defence capability over the next 10 years. Steven is the member for Moncrieff and was first elected to Federal Parliament in 2001.

Marise Payne is Australia’s 53rd Minister for Defence. She was sworn in on 21 September 2015 after previously serving as the Minister for Human Services for two years. She has more than two decades Parliamentary experience after filling a casual vacancy in 1997 to represent the people of New South Wales in the Australian Senate. During her parliamentary career she has served as Shadow Minister for Indigenous Development and Employment, Shadow Minister for COAG [Council of Australian Governments] and Shadow Minister for Housing.

Christopher Pyne was elected to the House of Representatives for the seat of Sturt in 1993 at the age of 25. Christopher is the Minister for Defence Industry and Leader of the House of Representatives. As Minister for Defence Industry Christopher is responsible for delivering the $200 billion worth of investment in Australia’s defence capabilities outlined in the Defence White Paper and ensuring the nation grasps this once in a generation opportunity, maximising job creation and economic growth.

The Hon Michael McCormack MP is the Member for Riverina in New South Wales. He was sworn in as the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Minister for Defence Personnel and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of Anzac on 20 December 2017. Born and raised on family farms at Marrar and Brucedale in the Riverina, Michael McCormack was educated in Wagga Wagga and went on to a 21-year career at Wagga Wagga’s The Daily Advertiser.

The Hon Dan Tehan MP is the Member for Wannon in Victoria. He was sworn in as the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Minister for Defence Personnel, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Cyber Security and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of Anzac on 27 July, 2016. He previously served as Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Minister for Defence Materiel and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of Anzac from 18 February, 2016.

Prior to entering Federal Parliament, Darren was a newspaper and television journalist in regional Victoria. His involvement in the National Party began when he became the Chief of Staff to the Leader of The Nationals in Victoria, Peter Ryan. In June 2008, Darren was elected to Federal Parliament as the Member for Gippsland in a by-election following the retirement of the Hon Peter McGauran. Darren was re-elected in 2010 and served as the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Roads and Regional Transport, a position he held until the September 2013 federal election.

Mal Brough was sworn in as the Minister for Defence Materiel and Science and Special Minister of State in the Australian Government on 21 September 2015. Mr Brough was first elected to Parliament in 1996 and held a number of Ministerial positions including Employment Services (2001-2004), Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence (2003-2004), Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer (2004-2006) and Minister for Families and Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (2006-2007) before he was defeated at the 2007 election.

Kevin Andrews was sworn in as the Minister for Defence in the Australian Government on 23 December 2014. A member of Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s Cabinet, the Minister has been a member of the Australian Commonwealth Parliament, since 1991, serving as the member for the Victorian seat of Menzies in the House of Representatives.

The Hon. Stuart Robert MP grew up in Bundaberg, Queensland on his family’s cane farm and attended Kepnock High School and The Rockhampton Grammar School prior to winning a scholarship to attend the Australian Defence Force Academy where he completed a Bachelor of Arts. After completing his studies, he attended the Royal Military College, Duntroon and was commissioned as an Officer in the Australian Army Intelligence Corps.

David graduated with a law degree from the University of Western Australia in 1979. He practiced for many years as a barrister and solicitor both in Kalgoorlie and Perth, in areas including criminal, mining, native title and administrative law. His involvement with the Liberal Party began in his uni student days when he joined the UWA Liberal Club in 1974. He was actively involved in the Party throughout his legal career and in 1997 David was honoured to be elected to serve as State President of the Liberal Party of WA, a position he held for four years.

I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet today, the Wiradjuri people. And I pay my respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

The Albanese Government is investing in a sovereign rocket motor program to help keep Australians safe, and generate well-paid, high-skilled jobs.  The Government is seeking options from industry to establish a manufacturing complex that will enable production of rocket motors for some of the world’s most advanced missiles in Australia. 

Good evening. I would like to acknowledge the Honourable James Marape MP, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea. The Honourable Isi Henry Leonard MP, the Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture. Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

The Albanese Government has ensured the future of the Royal Australian Air Force’s E-7A Wedgetail surveillance aircraft with a $569 million contract that also secures hundreds of highly skilled jobs across the country.   This contract with Boeing Defence Australia, announced today, will deliver enhancements to the aircraft and ground systems and ensures this critical capability is upgraded and maintained over the next decade.

Australia and Indonesia are strengthening security ties, with the signing of the Australia‑Indonesia Defence Cooperation Agreement in Indonesia today.  Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, signed the historic agreement alongside Indonesian President-elect and Minister of Defence, Prabowo Subianto. 

Once again Team Australia has done us proud on the world stage, inspiring the nation throughout the week long Invictus Games in Vancouver, Canada.  The Invictus Games is an international, adaptive multi-sports competition for current and former serving military personnel who have been wounded, injured or become ill during their military service. 

SUBJECTS: Sean Turnell; Freedom of Navigation Operations; Australia-China relationship; Letters sent to asylum seekers; War in Ukraine

Australia and Indonesia’s defence partnership is underpinned by mutual trust, transparency and a shared commitment to a stable, peaceful, resilient and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.