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  2. The Hon. Kevin Andrews MP
Kevin Andrews

The Hon. Kevin Andrews MP

Minister for Defence

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Kevin Andrews was sworn in as the Minister for Defence in the Australian Government on 23 December 2014.

A member of Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s Cabinet, the Minister has been a member of the Australian Commonwealth Parliament, since 1991, serving as the member for the Victorian seat of Menzies in the House of Representatives.

Since his election to parliament, the Minister has served on numerous Parliamentary Committees, including the Joint Select Committee on Family Law Issues, the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties and the Joint Select Committee on Intelligence Services. He has also served as Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Chairman of the Federal Government’s Policy Committee on Family and Community Services and Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Economics Committee.

The Minister’s previous Ministerial appointments include serving as Minister for Ageing (2001-2003), Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service (2003-2007), Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (2007) and Minister for Social Services (2013-2014).

The Minister has previously served as the Shadow Minister for Schools, Vocational Education and Training (1993-1994) and the Shadow Minister for Families, Housing and Human Services (2009-2013).

Following the defeat of the Howard Government, the Minister was appointed as Chairman of the Coalition’s Federalism Taskforce. He was subsequently appointed Chairman of the Coalition Policy Review and Coalition Policy Coordination Committee in 2008 and held that position until December 2009.

In 2012, the Minister published a book entitled “Maybe I Do: Modern Marriage and the Pursuit of Happiness.”

Raised in country Victoria, the Minister studied law and arts at Melbourne University, where he lived at Newman College, before completing a Master of Laws at Monash University.

Before his election to parliament, the Minister served as an Associate to Sir James Gobbo in the Victorian Supreme Court before practicing law at the Victorian Bar. He was named Australian Young Lawyer of the Year for his community work in establishing a legal scheme for disaster victims, and for publishing a book for seniors about the law.

A keen cyclist, the Minister is married to Margaret and together they have four adult children and a teenage son.

Joint Media Release - New Zealand Minister of Defence and Minister for Defence - Ministers re-affirm Defence relations

18 September 2015

Minister for Defence - Australia-New Zealand Defence Ministers Meeting

17 September 2015

Minister for Defence - Government invests $14 million in Defence technology

14 September 2015

Minister for Defence - Construction begins on $157m project at HMAS Albatross

11 September 2015

Prime Minister and Minister for Defence - Australia to extend air operations against Daesh into Syria

9 September 2015

Joint Media Release - Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence - Australia-Republic of Korea 2+2 Foreign And Defence Ministerial Meeting

7 September 2015

Minister for Defence - Two years of achievements in Defence

7 September 2015

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View full list of Minister media release by The Hon. Kevin Andrews MP

Minister for Defence - Australia's Defence policy and relationship with India

2 September 2015

Minister for Defence - Address to the American Chamber of Commerce in Australia - QT Hotel, Canberra

27 August 2015

Minister for Defence - ADM Cyber Security Summit

17 June 2015

Minister for Defence - Speech - Royal Military College Graduation Parade

16 June 2015

Minister for Defence - Australian Civil-Military Centre’s Civil-Military Leaders’ Workshop

12 June 2015

Minister for Defence - Commissioning of 725 Squadron - HMAS Albatross, Nowra

11 June 2015

Minister for Defence - 114th IISS Asia Security Summit: The Shangri-La Dialogue, Singapore

31 May 2015

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View full list of Minister speech by The Hon. Kevin Andrews MP

Minister for Defence - Statement from the Minister for Defence

20 September 2015

Minister for Defence - Australia welcomes Japanese defence reform

19 September 2015

Minister for Defence - Statement on Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and Operations in the Middle East

16 September 2015

Minister for Defence - Australia-Republic of Korea Foreign and Defence Ministers 2+2 Meeting

11 September 2015

Minister for Defence - Blueprint for Defence and Security Cooperation Between Australia and the Republic of Korea

11 September 2015

Minister for Defence - Joint Communiqué - India - Australia Defence Ministers’ Meeting

3 September 2015

Minister for Defence - Opinion Editorial for The Hindu, India

1 September 2015

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View full list of Minister statement by The Hon. Kevin Andrews MP

Minister for Defence - Doorstop Interview, Melbourne Commonwealth Parliamentary Offices

20 September 2015

Minister for Defence - Doorstop Parliament House

16 September 2015

Minister for Defence - Transcript - Interview with Marius Benson ABC News Radio

16 September 2015

Minister for Defence - Transcript - 3AW with Neil Mitchell

15 September 2015

Minister for Defence - Interview with Sky News

15 September 2015

Minister for Defence - ABC 24 Breakfast

15 September 2015

Minister for Defence - ABC AM with Michael Brissenden

15 September 2015

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View full list of Minister transcript by The Hon. Kevin Andrews MP

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