- Lead on capability approval decisions through National Security Committee and National Security Investment Subcommittee as directed
- Lead management of capability acquisition and sustainment projects once approved by government, including project performance, and projects and products of interest and concern
- Defence Act Reform
- Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) Enterprise
- Estate and Infrastructure Policy
- Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator
- Office for Defence Industry Support
- Defence Industry Development Strategy implementation and reform
- AUKUS Pillar I with a focus on industrial aspects
- Defence capability disposals
- Defence Industry Engagement
- Defence Test and Evaluation
- Defence Cooperation Program
- Security and Vetting
- Defence exports and global supply chains
- Australian Industry Capability Program
- International engagement on defence industry matters, including industrial base collaboration
- Assist on Defence engagement with the Pacific and Timor-Leste, and Pacific Maritime Security Program
- Defence’s contribution to the maritime strategic fleet.
Designation
Minister for Defence Industry
Minister for Pacific Island Affairs
Media contacts
General enquiries
Designation
Minister for Defence Industry
Minister for Pacific Island Affairs
Minister profile
The Hon. Pat Conroy MP is the Minister for Defence Industry, Minister for Pacific Island Affairs, and the Federal Member for Shortland.
Pat was elected to the House of Representatives as the Member for Charlton, New South Wales in 2013 and, following an electoral redistribution, as the Member for Shortland, New South Wales in 2016 and again in 2019 and 2022.
From 2016 to 2019, Pat was Shadow Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy and Shadow Assistant Minister for Infrastructure. In 2019, he was appointed Shadow Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Shadow Minister Assisting for Defence and Shadow Minister Assisting for Climate Change and Energy.
From 2008 to 2013, he was Principal Policy Adviser and then Deputy Chief of Staff to the Hon. Greg Combet, AM, MP, who served as a Minister in the Rudd and Gillard Labor Governments. In these roles, Pat worked in developing significant policies in areas including Defence Materiel, Defence Science and Industry and Innovation.
Born in 1979, Pat was raised on the NSW Central Coast and went on to study Economics at the University of Sydney, graduating with Honours in 2000.
Pat is married with 2 children and lives in his electorate of Shortland which covers the Eastern Lake Macquarie area and the Northern Central Coast. He enjoys cooking, playing rugby union and watching rugby league.