Katherine Ziesing | Canberra
Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced a major reshuffle of his frontbench on the weekend as he moves to "reset and refocus" his Government for next year. The new cabinet is being sworn in today.
Significantly, WA Senator David Johnston has been replaced as Defence Minister by Howard government veteran Kevin Andrews, ‘a safe pair of hands’, according to Prime Minister Abbott.
Unfortunately, Senator Johnston has had a number of gaffes in recent times including referring to the skills of ASC as not being able to build a canoe and questioning their ability to manage both money and risk.
The lack of direction on the Future Submarine has also been an ongoing concern as various options are canvassed.
Johnston leaves the portfolio with mixed success.
His passion for the men and women of the ADF and various platforms they employ has never been in doubt.
His work in committee over the last decade put him in good stead to ask some hard questions of the DMO and wider Defence organisation.
His lack of political capital in NSC was an issue as was his tendency to speak his mind, a much undervalued quality in the current political climate.