- Oversight of all aspects of the Defence portfolio
- Australian Signals Directorate
- Australian Submarine Agency
- Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Regulator
- Australian Defence Force operations
- AUKUS (Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States) relationship
- Budget
- Defence Act reform
- Defence export controls
- Defence Planning Guidance
- Defence Workforce Plan
- Capability requirements, including the Integrated Investment Program
- Strategic policy, including the National Defence Strategy
- Force Posture
- Intelligence
- International policy and engagement
- Preparedness
- Reform and enterprise management
- Science and technology policy and support to capability and operations
- With the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and the Minister for Defence Personnel, implementation of the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide
Designation
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister for Defence
Media contacts
Designation
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister for Defence
Minister profile
The Hon. Richard Marles MP is the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, Minister for Defence and the Federal Member for Corio.
Richard was first elected to the House of Representatives for Corio, Victoria in 2007.
Richard's previous ministerial appointments include Minister of Trade, Minister for Employment, Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, Parliamentary Secretary for Innovation and Industry, and Chair of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Affairs.
Born in 1967, Richard was raised and educated in Geelong and went on to study Law and Science, achieving a LLB (Hons) and a BSc from the University of Melbourne.
Richard lives in Geelong with his wife Rachel and has four children, Sam, Isabella, Harvey and Georgia.
He is a devoted Geelong Cats supporter, golf fanatic, a keen photographer, a snowdome collector and local history enthusiast.