The Defence portfolio has received a shakeup as part of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s first ministerial reshuffle. Through the reshuffle, Defence has lost an Assistant Minister but gained a Special Envoy and another Cabinet Minister.
The Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy, has been appointed to Cabinet with an expanded role as the Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery and the Minister for International Development and the Pacific. While Conroy previously participated in the National Security Committee (NSC) and National Security Investment Committees (NSIC), his elevation means that there will be two Ministers administering elements of the Defence and Foreign Affairs portfolio within Cabinet proper.
“AUKUS, both Pillar One and Pillar Two are critical. Pat’s been an important member of our National Security Committee and I've made the decision that this area is such an important area of delivery, that it's worthy of two Cabinet Ministers. He will join Richard Marles, of course, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence as Cabinet Ministers,” Prime Minister Albanese said.
The position of Assistant Minister for Defence, however, has been abolished, with Matt Thistlethwaite being moved to the position of Assistant Minister for Immigration. In his place, Luke Gosling has been appointed as the new Special Envoy for Defence, Veterans Affairs and Northern Australia.
“An Assistant Minister is someone who's making decisions…. they're in the executive. What I've done with the Envoy positions is put in place people who can give thought to things that mightn't lead to an immediate policy decision… they're certainly not funding any programs,” Albanese added.
While not strictly defence-related, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), has also been moved out of the Department of Home Affairs and into the Attorney General’s Department.