Former Foreign Minister Stephen Smith is Australia’s new Minister for Defence, supported by Jason Clare as Minister for Defence Materiel and Warren Snowdon who returns to his old portfolios of Defence Science and Personnel and Veterans’ Affairs.

Stephen Smith, Jason Clare and Warren Snowdon have been appointed to the Defence portfolio as part of the new Gillard Ministry, sworn in during September.

…And we’re here to help. Suddenly there’s an alignment occurring between defence industry policy and a portfolio of Federal government programs designed to help local firms grow and become more competitive.

Labor's policy outline has reaffirmed the strategic framework established by the 2009 defence white paper, with the Simpson program the only major new policy initiative.

Consult Australia's annual Engineering Skills Survey suggests engineering skills shortages could threaten $400bn in infrastructure projects over the next decade.

Eight innovative proposals have been selected this year to be developed through Round 14 of the Capability and Technology Demonstrator Program.

The Federal Government has named the industry teams that will be invited to tender for long-term contracts for the repair and maintenance of Navy’s major fleet units.

Bob Baldwin, Shadow Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, has announced the preliminary details of the Coalition's Defence policy.

Senator Faulkner's departure from Defence means that Australia will have had seven Defence ministers in 14 years.

A shortlist of contenders for the ship support batching contracts have been announced by the government.

Minister for Defence Materiel and Science Greg Combet has released the long awaited Defence Industry Policy Statement.

Defence Minister John Faulkner has expanded the detail in the Defence Capability Plan (DCP) in response to a recent report.

As has been reported in this magazine and elsewhere, the 2009 Defence White Paper included ambitious plans to enhance and modernise the ADF’s operational capabilities.

Minister for Defence, Senator John Faulkner, has settled some of the uncertainty over encroachments by mining firms into the Woomera range area by releasing a public statement setting out conditions which apply to applications to access the Woomera Prohibited Area (WPA).

The ADF has awarded a contract to Alelo for 200 new Gold licences for its PC-based Operational Language and Culture training system.

Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Russ Crane has launched the new Australian Maritime Doctrine in Canberra, a 'blueprint' for the RAN's future.