Minister for Defence Personnel

Australian cabinet position

Minister for Defence Personnel

Incumbent
Matt Keogh

since 1 June 2022 (2022-06-01)

Department of Defence
Style| The Honourable
Appointer| Governor-General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister of Australia
Inaugural holder| Ros Kelly (as Minister for Defence Science and Personnel)
Formation| 18 September 1987 (1987-09-18)
Website| www.minister.defence.gov.au/current-ministers/2022-06/matt-keogh

In the Government of Australia, the Minister for Defence Personnel is a position which is currently held by Matt Keogh, after the Albanese ministry was sworn in on 1 June 2022, following the 2022 Australian federal election.[1]

The ministerial portfolio has existed under various names since 1987. The Minister appointed is responsible for oversight of defence personnel and administered the portfolio through the Department of Defence, the Australian Defence Force, the Australian Defence Force Academy, and a range of other agencies.

While ultimately responsible to the Commonwealth of Australia and the Parliament, in practical terms, the minister reports to the Minister for Defence.

## List of ministers for defence personnel

[edit]

The following individuals have been appointed as Minister for Defence Personnel, or any of its precedent titles:[2]

Order  | Minister  | Party  | Prime Minister  | Title  | Term start  | Term end  | Term in office

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | Ros Kelly |  | Labor | Hawke | Minister for Defence Science and Personnel  | 18 September 1987 (1987-09-18) | 6 April 1989 (1989-04-06) | 1 year, 200 days
2  | David Simmons |  | 6 April 1989 (1989-04-06) | 4 April 1990 (1990-04-04) | 363 days
3  | Gordon Bilney |  | 4 April 1990 (1990-04-04) | 20 December 1991 (1991-12-20) | 2 years, 354 days
| Keating | 20 December 1991 (1991-12-20) | 24 March 1993 (1993-03-24)
4  | John Faulkner |  | 24 March 1993 (1993-03-24) | 25 March 1994 (1994-03-25) | 1 year, 1 day
5  | Gary Punch |  | 25 March 1994 (1994-03-25) | 11 March 1996 (1996-03-11) | 1 year, 352 days
6  | Bronwyn Bishop |  | Liberal | Howard | Minister for Defence Industry, Science and Personnel  | 11 March 1996 (1996-03-11) | 21 October 1998 (1998-10-21) | 2 years, 224 days
7  | Warren Snowdon |  | Labor  | Rudd | Minister for Defence Science and Personnel  | 3 December 2007 (2007-12-03) | 9 June 2009 (2009-06-09) | 1 year, 188 days
8  | Greg Combet |  | Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science  | 9 June 2009 (2009-06-09) | 1 April 2010 (2010-04-01) | 296 days
9  | Alan Griffin |  | Minister for Defence Personnel  | 1 April 2010 (2010-04-01) | 24 June 2010 (2010-06-24) | 166 days
| Gillard | 24 June 2010 (2010-06-24) | 14 September 2010 (2010-09-14)
(7) | Warren Snowdon  |  | Minister for Defence Science and Personnel  | 14 September 2010 (2010-09-14) | 27 June 2013 (2013-06-27) | 3 years, 4 days
| Rudd  | 27 June 2013 (2013-06-27) | 18 September 2013 (2013-09-18)
10  | Mal Brougha |  | Liberal  | Turnbull | Minister for Defence Materiel and Science  | 21 September 2015 (2015-09-21) | 29 December 2015 (2015-12-29) | 99 days
acting | Marise Paynea |  | Acting Minister for Defence Materiel and Science | 29 December 2015 (2015-12-29) | 18 February 2016 (2016-02-18) | 51 days
11  | Dan Tehan |  | Liberal  | Turnbull  | Minister for Defence Personnel  | 19 July 2016 (2016-07-19) | 20 December 2017 (2017-12-20) | 1 year, 154 days
12  | Michael McCormack |  | Nationals | 20 December 2017 (2017-12-20) | 5 March 2018 (2018-03-05) | 75 days
13  | Darren Chester |  | 5 March 2018 (2018-03-05) | 28 August 2018 (2018-08-28) | 3 years, 119 days
Morrison | 28 August 2018 (2018-08-28) | 2 July 2021 (2021-07-02)
14  | Andrew Gee |  | 2 July 2021 (2021-07-02) | 23 May 2022 (2022-05-23) | 325 days
15  | Matt Keogh |  | Labor  | Albanese | Minister for Defence Personnel
Minister for Veterans' Affairs | 1 June 2022 (2022-06-01) | incumbent  | 2 years, 71 days

## See also

[edit]

* Australia portal

* Department of Defence
* Minister for Defence
* Minister for Defence Industry
* Minister for Veterans' Affairs
* Chief of Personnel

## Notes

[edit]

a ^ Minister Mal Brough temporarily stood aside on 29 December 2015. Subsequently, Senator Marise Payne served as Acting Minister for Defence Materiel and Science. Brough later resigned from the Ministry on 13 February 2016 and Payne remained acting in the role until the rearranged ministry was sworn on 18 February 2016.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Press Conference - Parliament House, Canberra | Prime Minister of Australia". www.pm.gov.au. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
2. ^ "Ministries and Cabinets". 43rd Parliamentary Handbook: Historical information on the Australian Parliament. Parliament of Australia. 2010. Archived from the original on 13 August 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2013.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

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