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Minister for Defence (Australia)

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Minister for Defence (Australia)
Minister not_prime
Appointed by Governor-General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister of Australia
Incumbent Senator David Johnston
Minister for Defence (Australia)
Minister not_prime
Appointed by Governor-General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister of Australia
Incumbent Stuart Robert MP

The Australian Minister for Defence is Senator the Honourable David Johnston.

The Australian Assistant Minister for Defence and the Minister assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC is the Honourable Stuart Robert MP.[1]

The ministers administers the portfolio through the Australian Defence Organisation, which comprises the Department of Defence, the Australian Defence Force, the Defence Materiel Organisation, the Australian Defence Force Academy, and a range of other agencies.

Defence ministries[]

Over the years there have been a number of ministries with a variety of names involved the defence portfolio; in the period November 1939 to April 1942, there was no position named "Minister of Defence".

Previous governments have included ministers with titles using one or more of the following:

  • Air
  • Aircraft production
  • Army
  • Defence
  • Defence Coordination
  • Defence Industry
  • Defence Materiel
  • Defence Personnel
  • Defence Production
  • Defence Science
  • Defence Support
  • Development
  • Munitions
  • Navy
  • Repatriation
  • Shipping
  • Supply
  • Veterans' Affairs

List of Ministers for Defence[]

There was a Minister for Defence from 1 January 1901 until 13 November 1939, with the exception of two small breaks. The separate titles of Minister for the Navy, Minister for the Army, and Minister for the Air were abolished in the second Whitlam Ministry on 30 November 1973, when the separate departments of Navy, Army and Air were also abolished. There had also been a separate Navy portfolio between 1915 and 1921.

The following have served as Minister for Defence:[2]

Order Minister Party Prime Minister Term start Term end Term in office
1 James Dickson MP   Protectionist Barton 1 January 1901 10 January 1901 9 days
2 John Forrest MP   Protectionist Barton 17 January 1901 10 August 1903 70002000000000000002 years, 7002205000000000000205 days
3 Senator James Drake 10 August 1903 24 September 1903 45 days
4 Austin Chapman MP Deakin 24 September 1903 27 April 1904 216 days
5 Senator Anderson Dawson Labor Watson 27 April 1904 18 August 1904 113 days
6 James McCay MP Protectionist Reid 18 August 1904 5 July 1905 321 days
7 Senator Thomas Playford Deakin 5 July 1905 24 January 1907 70001000000000000001 year, 7002203000000000000203 days
8 Thomas Ewing MP 24 January 1907 13 November 1908 70001000000000000001 year, 7002294000000000000294 days
9 Senator George Pearce[n 1] Labor Fisher 13 November 1908 2 June 1909 201 days
10 Joseph Cook MP Free Trade Deakin 2 June 1909 29 April 1910 331 days
(9) Senator George Pearce[n 1] Labor Fisher 29 April 1910 24 June 1913 70003000000000000003 years, 700156000000000000056 days
10 Senator Edward Millen Commonwealth Liberal Cook 24 June 1913 17 September 1914 70001000000000000001 year, 700185000000000000085 days
(9) Senator George Pearce[n 1] Labor Fisher 17 September 1914 27 October 1915 70007000000000000007 years, 700195000000000000095 days
Hughes 27 October 1915 14 November 1916
National Labor 14 November 1916 13 June 1917[n 2]
Nationalist 13 June 1917 21 December 1921
11 Walter Massy-Greene MP[n 3] 21 December 1921 9 February 1923 70001000000000000001 year, 700150000000000000050 days
12 Eric Bowden MP Bruce 9 February 1923 16 January 1925 70001000000000000001 year, 7002342000000000000342 days
13 Neville Howse MP 16 January 1925 2 April 1927 70002000000000000002 years, 700176000000000000076 days
14 Senator William Glasgow 2 April 1927 22 October 1929 70002000000000000002 years, 7002203000000000000203 days
15 Albert Green MP Labor Scullin 22 October 1929 4 February 1931 70001000000000000001 year, 7002105000000000000105 days
16 Senator John Daly 4 February 1931 3 March 1931 27 days
17 Ben Chifley MP 3 March 1931 6 January 1932 309 days
(9) Senator George Pearce[n 1] United
Australia 		Lyons 6 January 1932 12 October 1934 70002000000000000002 years, 7002279000000000000279 days
18 Archdale Parkhill MP 12 October 1934 20 November 1937 70003000000000000003 years, 700139000000000000039 days
19 Joseph Lyons MP 20 November 1937 29 November 1937 9 days
20 Harold Thorby MP Country 29 November 1937 7 November 1938 343 days
21 Geoffrey Street MP United
Australia 		7 November 1938 7 April 1939 70001000000000000001 year, 70006000000000000006 days
Page 7 April 1939 26 April 1939
Menzies 26 April 1939 13 November 1939
22 Robert Menzies MP[n 4] 13 November 1939 29 August 1941 70001000000000000001 year, 7002328000000000000328 days
Fadden 29 August 1941 7 October 1941
23 John Curtin MP[n 4] Labor Curtin 7 October 1941 6 July 1945 70003000000000000003 years, 7002272000000000000272 days
24 Jack Beasley MP Forde 6 July 1945 13 July 1945 70001000000000000001 year, 700139000000000000039 days
Chifley 13 July 1945 14 August 1946
25 Frank Forde MP 15 August 1946 1 November 1946 79 days
26 John Dedman MP 1 November 1946 19 December 1949 70003000000000000003 years, 700148000000000000048 days
27 Eric Harrison MP Liberal Menzies 19 December 1949 24 October 1950 309 days
28 Philip McBride MP 24 October 1950 10 December 1958 70008000000000000008 years, 700147000000000000047 days
29 Athol Townley MP 10 December 1958 18 December 1963 70005000000000000005 years, 70008000000000000008 days
30 Paul Hasluck MP 18 December 1963 24 April 1964 128 days
31 Senator Shane Paltridge 24 April 1964 19 January 1966 70001000000000000001 year, 7002270000000000000270 days
32 Allen Fairhall MP Holt 26 January 1966 12 December 1967 70003000000000000003 years, 7002297000000000000297 days
McEwen 12 December 1967 10 January 1968
Gorton 10 January 1968 12 November 1969
33 Malcolm Fraser MP 12 November 1969 8 March 1971 70001000000000000001 year, 7002116000000000000116 days
34 John Gorton MP McMahon 19 March 1971 13 August 1971 147 days
35 David Fairbairn MP 13 August 1971 5 December 1972 70001000000000000001 year, 7002114000000000000114 days
36 Lance Barnard MP Labor Whitlam 5 December 1972 6 June 1975 70002000000000000002 years, 7002183000000000000183 days
37 Bill Morrison MP 6 June 1975 11 November 1975 158 days
38 James Killen MP Liberal Fraser 12 November 1975 7 May 1982 70006000000000000006 years, 7002176000000000000176 days
39 Ian Sinclair MP National Country 7 May 1982 11 March 1983 308 days
40 Gordon Scholes MP Labor Hawke 11 March 1983 13 December 1984 70001000000000000001 year, 7002277000000000000277 days
41 Kim Beazley MP 13 December 1984 4 April 1990 70005000000000000005 years, 7002112000000000000112 days
42 Senator Robert Ray 4 April 1990 20 December 1991 70005000000000000005 years, 7002342000000000000342 days
Keating 20 December 1991 11 March 1996
43 Ian McLachlan MP Liberal Howard 11 March 1996 21 October 1998 70002000000000000002 years, 7002224000000000000224 days
44 John Moore MP 21 October 1998 30 January 2001 70002000000000000002 years, 7002101000000000000101 days
45 Peter Reith MP 30 January 2001 26 November 2001 300 days
46 Senator Robert Hill 26 November 2001 20 January 2006 70004000000000000004 years, 700155000000000000055 days
47 Brendan Nelson MP 20 January 2006 3 December 2007 70001000000000000001 year, 7002317000000000000317 days
48 Joel Fitzgibbon MP Labor Rudd 3 December 2007 9 June 2009 70001000000000000001 year, 7002188000000000000188 days
49 Senator John Faulkner 9 June 2009 24 June 2010 70001000000000000001 year, 700197000000000000097 days
Gillard 24 June 2010 14 September 2010
50 Stephen Smith MP 14 September 2010 27 June 2013 70003000000000000003 years, 70004000000000000004 days
Rudd 27 June 2013 18 September 2013
51 Senator David Johnston Liberal Abbott 18 September 2013 incumbent 4043 days

List of Assistant Ministers for Defence[]

The following individuals have been appointed as Assistant Minister for Defence:[2]

Order Minister Party Prime Minister Term start Term end Term in office
1 Gen Granville Ryrie MP[n 5] Nationalist Hughes 4 February 1920 (1920-02-04) 5 February 1923 (1923-02-05) 70003000000000000003 years, 70001000000000000001 day
2 Josiah Francis United Australia Lyons 6 January 1932 (1932-01-06) 12 October 1934 (1934-10-12) 70002000000000000002 years, 7002279000000000000279 days
3 Stuart Robert Liberal Abbott 18 September 2013 (2013-09-18) incumbent 4043 days

Individual service branch ministers[]

Ministers for the Navy[]

The following served as Minister for the Navy:[2]

Order Minister Party Prime Minister Term start Term end Term in office
1 Jens Jensen MP   Labor Fisher 12 July 1915 27 October 1915 70001000000000000001 year, 7002220000000000000220 days
Hughes 27 October 1915 14 November 1916
National Labor 14 November 1916 17 February 1917
2 Joseph Cook MP Commonwealth
Liberal[n 2] 		17 February 1917 13 June 1917 70003000000000000003 years, 7002162000000000000162 days
Nationalist 13 June 1917 28 July 1920
3 William Laird Smith MP 28 July 1920 21 December 1921 70001000000000000001 year, 7002146000000000000146 days
4 Frederick Stewart MP United
Australia 		Menzies 13 November 1939 14 March 1940 122 days
5 Archie Cameron MP 14 March 1940 28 October 1940 228 days
6 Billy Hughes MP 28 October 1940 29 August 1941 344 days
Fadden 29 August 1941 7 October 1941
7 Norman Makin MP Labor Curtin 7 October 1941 6 July 1945 70004000000000000004 years, 7002312000000000000312 days
Forde 6 July 1945 13 July 1945
Chifley 13 July 1945 15 August 1946
8 Arthur Drakeford MP 15 August 1946 1 November 1946 78 days
9 Bill Riordan MP 1 November 1946 19 December 1949 70003000000000000003 years, 700148000000000000048 days
10 Josiah Francis MP Liberal Menzies 19 December 1949 11 May 1951 70001000000000000001 year, 7002143000000000000143 days
11 Philip McBride MP 11 May 1951 17 July 1951 67 days
12 William McMahon MP 17 July 1951 9 July 1954 70002000000000000002 years, 7002357000000000000357 days
(10) Josiah Francis MP 9 July 1954 11 July 1955 70001000000000000001 year, 70002000000000000002 days
13 Eric Harrison MP 11 July 1955 11 January 1956 184 days
14 Senator Neil O'Sullivan 11 January 1956 24 October 1956 287 days
15 Charles Davidson MP Country 24 October 1956 10 December 1958 70002000000000000002 years, 700147000000000000047 days
16 Senator John Gorton Liberal 10 December 1958 18 December 1963 70005000000000000005 years, 70008000000000000008 days
17 Jim Forbes MP 18 December 1963 4 March 1964 77 days
18 Fred Chaney, Sr. MP 4 March 1964 26 January 1966 70002000000000000002 years, 7002285000000000000285 days
Holt 26 January 1966 14 December 1966
19 Don Chipp MP 14 December 1966 19 December 1967 70001000000000000001 year, 700176000000000000076 days
McEwen 19 December 1967 10 January 1968
Gorton 10 January 1968 28 February 1968
20 Bert Kelly MP 28 February 1968 12 November 1969 70001000000000000001 year, 7002257000000000000257 days
21 James Killen MP 12 November 1969 10 March 1971 70001000000000000001 year, 7002130000000000000130 days
McMahon 10 March 1971 22 March 1971
22 Malcolm Mackay MP 22 March 1971 5 December 1972 70001000000000000001 year, 7002258000000000000258 days
23 Lance Barnard MP Labor Whitlam 5 December 1972 30 November 1973 360 days

Ministers for the Army[]

The following served as Minister for the Army:[2]

Order Minister Party Prime Minister Term start Term end Term in office
1 Geoffrey Street MP   United
Australia 		Menzies 13 November 1939 28 October 1940 350 days
2 Senator Percy Spender 28 October 1940 29 August 1941 344 days
Fadden 29 August 1941 7 October 1941
3 Frank Forde MP Labor Curtin 7 October 1941 6 July 1945 70005000000000000005 years, 700125000000000000025 days
Forde 6 July 1945 13 July 1945
Chifley 13 July 1945 1 November 1946
4 Cyril Chambers MP 1 November 1946 19 December 1949 70003000000000000003 years, 700148000000000000048 days
5 Josiah Francis MP Liberal Menzies 19 December 1949 7 November 1955 70005000000000000005 years, 7002323000000000000323 days
6 Eric Harrison MP 7 November 1955 28 February 1956 113 days
7 John Cramer MP 28 February 1956 18 December 1963 70007000000000000007 years, 7002293000000000000293 days
8 Jim Forbes MP 18 December 1963 26 January 1966 70002000000000000002 years, 700139000000000000039 days
9 Malcolm Fraser MP Holt 26 January 1966 19 December 1967 70002000000000000002 years, 700133000000000000033 days
McEwen 19 December 1967 10 January 1968
Gorton 10 January 1968 28 February 1968
10 Phillip Lynch MP 28 February 1968 12 November 1969 70001000000000000001 year, 7002257000000000000257 days
11 Andrew Peacock MP 12 November 1969 10 March 1971 70002000000000000002 years, 700182000000000000082 days
McMahon 10 March 1971 2 February 1972
12 Bob Katter, Sr. MP Country 2 February 1972 5 December 1972 309 days
13 Lance Barnard MP Labor Whitlam 5 December 1972 30 November 1973 360 days

Ministers for Air[]

The following served as Minister for Air:[2]

Order Minister Party Prime Minister Term start Term end Term in office
1 James Fairbairn MP   United
Australia 		Menzies 13 November 1939 13 August 1940 274 days
2 Arthur Fadden MP Country 14 August 1940 28 October 1940 75 days
3 John McEwen MP 28 October 1940 29 August 1941 344 days
Fadden 29 August 1941 7 October 1941
4 Arthur Drakeford MP Labor Curtin 7 October 1941 6 July 1945 70008000000000000008 years, 700173000000000000073 days
Forde 6 July 1945 13 July 1945
Chifley 13 July 1945 19 December 1949
5 Thomas White MP Liberal Menzies 19 December 1949 11 May 1951 70001000000000000001 year, 7002143000000000000143 days
6 Philip McBride MP 11 May 1951 17 July 1951 67 days
7 William McMahon MP 17 July 1951 9 July 1954 70002000000000000002 years, 7002357000000000000357 days
8 Athol Townley MP 9 July 1954 24 October 1956 70002000000000000002 years, 7002107000000000000107 days
9 Frederick Osborne MP 24 October 1956 29 December 1960 70004000000000000004 years, 700166000000000000066 days
10 Senator Harrie Wade 29 December 1960 22 December 1961 358 days
11 Les Bury MP 22 December 1961 27 July 1962 217 days
12 David Fairbairn MP 27 July 1962 10 June 1964 70001000000000000001 year, 7002319000000000000319 days
13 Peter Howson MP 10 June 1964 26 January 1966 70003000000000000003 years, 7002263000000000000263 days
Holt 26 January 1966 19 December 1967
McEwen 19 December 1967 10 January 1968
Gorton 10 January 1968 28 February 1968
14 Gordon Freeth MP 28 February 1968 13 February 1969 351 days
15 Dudley Erwin MP 13 February 1969 12 November 1969 272 days
16 Senator Tom Drake-Brockman Country 12 November 1969 10 March 1971 70003000000000000003 years, 700123000000000000023 days
McMahon 10 March 1971 5 December 1972
17 Lance Barnard MP Labor Whitlam 5 December 1972 30 November 1973 360 days

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Although McBride served the longest continously, Pearce had the longest combined service at more than 13 years, and as a member of four parties (Labor, National Labor, Nationalist, and UAP).
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 The Liberal and National Labor parties approved a coalition agreement on 13 February 1917,[3] and the new ministry was sworn on 17 February 1917.[4] The parties co-ordinated their campaign against Labor at the 1917 election,[5] and while there was some discussion of the two parties remaining separate,[6] they formally merged on 13 June 1917.[7]
  3. ↑ The Parliamentary Handbook erroneously records Massy-Greene as Assistant Minister for Defence from 1921 to 1923. He was in fact the Minister for Defence.[8] He retained responsibility for Health, which he had held as Minister for Trade and Customs,[9] and was consequently titled Minister for Defence and Health.[10]
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 On 13 November 1939, early in the Second World War, Menzies divided the Defence portfolio into separate Army, Navy and Air portfolios and appointed himself Minister for Defence Coordination to oversee them.[2] Curtin retained this arrangement, but he reverted to the title Minister for Defence on 21 September 1943.[2]
  5. ↑ The Parliamentary Handbook erroneously records that Ryrie ceased to be Assistant Minister for Defence, being replaced by Massy-Greene. In fact, Massy-Greene was appointed Minister for Defence, and Ryrie remained in post.[10][11]

References[]

  1. ↑ "Tony Abbott's cabinet and outer ministry". The Sydney Morning Herald. 16 September 2013. http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbotts-cabinet-and-outer-ministry-20130916-2tuma.html#ixzz2fG6n3dep. Retrieved 20 September 2013. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 Australian Parliamentary Library. "Ministries and Cabinets". Parliamentary Handbook (32nd ed.). http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;adv=yes;db=HANDBOOK;id=handbook%2Fnewhandbook%2F2011-10-13%2F0063;orderBy=customrank;page=0;query=parliamentary%2Bhandbook%20SearchCategory_Phrase%3A%22publications%22;rec=14;resCount=Default. Retrieved 6 September 2013. 
  3. ↑ "The National Government: Agreement Reached". The Advertiser. Adelaide. 14 February 1917. p. 7. http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/5561670. Retrieved 14 August 2013. 
  4. ↑ "'Win the War' Party". Morning Bulletin. Rockhampton, Qld. 7 April 1917. p. 9. http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/53808375. Retrieved 13 August 2013. 
  5. ↑ "'Fusion' Campaign: Joint Committee to Fight Labor". Daily Herald. Adelaide. 4 April 1917. http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/105399612. Retrieved 25 September 2013. 
  6. ↑ "Fawkner's New Member, Mr. Maxwell's Resolution". The Argus. Melbourne. 13 June 1917. http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/1625180. Retrieved 25 September 2013. 
  7. ↑ "'Straight Ahead' for Nationalists". The Daily News. Perth. 14 June 1917. http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/81022424. Retrieved 25 September 2013. 
  8. ↑ "The Federal Cabinet". Geraldton Guardian. Geraldton, WA. 22 December 1921. http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/66720358. Retrieved 25 September 2013. 
  9. ↑ "Reconstructed Cabinet: Mr Massy Greene's Responsibilities". Daily Herald. Adelaide. 26 December 1921. http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/106641009. Retrieved 25 September 2013. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Billy Hughes, Prime Minister of Australia (28 June 1922) Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) Commonwealth of Australia: House of Representatives http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;adv=yes;db=HANSARD80;id=hansard80%2Fhansardr80%2F1922-06-28%2F0009;orderBy=_fragment_number,doc_date-rev;page=0;query=Dataset%3Ahansardr,hansardr80%20Decade%3A%221920s%22%20Year%3A%221922%22%20Month%3A%2206%22%20Day%3A%2228%22;rec=1;resCount=Default. 
  11. ↑ "Federal Reshuffle". The Brisbane Courier. 23 December 1921. p. 3. http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/20521009. Retrieved 25 September 2013. 

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