All releases

Interview with Peter Stefanovic, Sky News First Edition

PETER STEFANOVIC, HOST: I hope you're having a good morning wherever you're watching. Let's go back to Canberra now. Joining us live is the Liberal Senator Hollie Hughes and Labor MP and the Assistant Defence Minister, Matt Thistlethwaite. And because of that, we'll start with you, Matt. Have we…

Greg Jennett, ABC News24, Afternoon Briefing

 SUBJECTS: AUKUS; Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Amendment; Online Casinos; Safeguard Mechanism. GREG JENNETT, HOST: We're about to roll into our political panel, when very shortly we'll be joined by Labor frontbencher and Assistant Defence Minister Matt Thistlethwaite, can actually confirm Matt…

Greg Jennett, ABC News24, Afternoon Briefing

SUBJECTS: AUKUS; Prime Minister’s trip to India; Defence Act reform; Calls for public feedback on key changes to Defence legislation; Defence Strategic Review. GREG JENNETT, HOST: Matt Thistlethwaite, great to have you back in the studio. We'll get to your review of the Defence Act in a moment.…

Interview with Peter Stefanovic, Sky News First Edition

PETER STEFANOVIC, HOST: Okay, final one here on AUKUS, Matt, the announcement I think maybe next Monday involving all three members, Rishi Sunak, Biden, Albanese, they're all going to be there. Is that a way to assume that it's going to be a three way design on these subs? MATT THISTLETHWAITE,…

Reforming Defence legislation to meet Australia's strategic needs

The Albanese Government is today calling for public feedback on key reforms to Defence legislation. The Defence Act 1903, and related legislation, will be amended to better position the Australian Defence Force (ADF) as an agile, integrated, warfighting enterprise. The proposed reforms to the legal…

The first Ocius Bluebottle Uncrewed Surface Vessels for the ADF

The Minister for Defence Industry, The Hon Pat Conroy MP and Assistant Minister for Defence, The Hon Matt Thistlethwaite MP, have welcomed the arrival of the first Ocius BlueBottle Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs) for the Australian Defence Force. The Royal Australian Navy and Defence industry have…

Interview with Julia Bradley, Sky News

JULIA BRADLEY, HOST: This is the first year that Defence Ministers have marched in the Mardi Gras? MATT KEOGH, MINISTER FOR DEFENCE PERSONNEL: So, this year is the first year that Ministers have ever marched with the defence contingent, so myself as Minister for Defence Personnel, and Matt as the…

Doorstop interview, Mardi Gras, Sydney

MATT KEOGH, MINISTER FOR DEFENCE PERSONNEL: It’s a huge honour to be down here at Mardi Gras in Sydney as part of World Pride. I'm joined here with Matt Thistlethwaite, the Assistant Minister for Defence and Veterans’ Affairs. We know that our people in defence, our personnel, are our most…

Celebrating Mardi Gras with Defence

For the first time, Defence Ministers will join Defence personnel in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade, as part of the Sydney WorldPride festival on Saturday 25 February 2023. Since 2013, Defence personnel have proudly participated in the Parade, demonstrating their commitment to…

Press Conference, Darwin, Luke Gosling

SUBJECTS: Defence Renewable Energy and Energy Security Program; Local jobs; Defence Strategic Review; Port of Darwin.

Radio Interview, Mix 104.9 Darwin 360

SUBJECTS: Defence Renewable Energy and Energy Security Program; Defence Strategic Review; Alice Springs; Local crime. KATIE WOOLF, HOST: Now we know that the Federal Assistant Minister for Defence, Matt Thistlethwaite is in Darwin today and he's going to be visiting the Robertson Barracks where he'…

Defence lighting the way on renewable energy

The Albanese Labor Government will invest $64 million in the Defence Renewable Energy and Energy Security Program to deliver solar energy generation and battery storage systems at ten Defence sites throughout Australia. Sixty megawatts of solar energy, enough to power the equivalent of about 15,000…