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The Hon Melissa Price MP

The Hon Melissa Price MP

Minister for Defence Industry | Minister for Science and Technology

Minister Price was sworn in as the Minister for Defence Industry on 29 May 2019 and as the Minister for Science and Technology on 8 October 2021. The Minister and the Defence Industry portfolio were elevated to Cabinet on 30 March 2021. First elected to the Australian Parliament in 2013 as the Member for Durack – the largest electorate in Australia.  Minister Price has previously served in the Environment portfolio and has held a number of Parliamentary Committee roles including the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade.  A lawyer by profession, Minister Price brings over 20 years of experience in the private sector from a variety of commercial and legal roles.  She has also supported the community through working with the not-for-profit sector.

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Melissa was first elected to Parliament as the Member for Durack, the largest electorate in Australia covering more than 1.6 million square kilometres, in 2013. Born and raised in the gold mining town of Kalgoorlie, she relished the opportunity to represent the diverse interests of a rural electorate. Following the 2016 federal election, she was appointed to the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade in September 2016.

Melissa’s engagement in progressing defence outcomes continued through her work on the Coalition Defence Policy Committee and the Defence Sub-Committee. In December 2017, she was elevated to the role of Assistant Minister for the Environment and continued in this role until August 2018, when she was sworn in as Minister for the Environment in the Morrison Government. With the Coalition returned to government at the 2019 Federal election, Melissa was sworn in as Minister for Defence Industry in May 2019 and elevated to Cabinet on the 30 March 2021. Melissa was sworn in as the Minister for Science and Technology on 8 October 2021.

A lawyer by profession before beginning her career as a politician, Melissa has more than 20 years' experience in the private sector, working in a variety of commercial and legal roles. Maintaining her connection to rural Australia through stints in regionally focused industries, Melissa also spent time working with the not-for-profit sector. She is a former Director of both the Cancer Council (WA) and BrightSpark Foundation, and a passionate supporter of child health and cancer research. Melissa is also a proud 16-year member of the Fremantle Football Club.

$19 million innovation investment to protect our ADF

6 April 2022

$23 million investment to build our Defence capabilities

5 April 2022

$41 million and 80 new jobs for Hunter region to transform ADF deployable infrastructure

4 April 2022

$12m boost for Canberra manufacturer

3 April 2022

$81.4m boost to Australia's Defence sovereign industrial capability

1 April 2022

Morrison government launches small business advocacy team

1 April 2022

Bright ideas of Aussie businesses to protect our national security

31 March 2022

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View full list of Minister media release by The Hon Melissa Price MP

Representing the Prime Minister Cooperative Research Australia – Innovation Showcase

1 April 2022

National Youth Science Forum Breakfast

1 April 2022

CRC 30th Anniversary Gala Dinner

1 April 2022

Defence Connect Budget Lunch, Canberra

1 April 2022

Launch of the Office of Defence Industry Support - 26 November 2021

26 November 2021

Submarine Institute of Australia, 6th Submarine Science, Technology and Engineering Conference

9 November 2021

Shape, Deter, Respond: ASPI Conference 2021

10 June 2021

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View full list of Minister speech by The Hon Melissa Price MP

Statement on Cabinet Appointment

29 March 2021

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Interview with Will Goodings from FiveAA Breakfast

25 February 2022

Press Conference, Sky News Australia

25 February 2022

Interview with Gary Hardgrave for Chris Smith Tonight, Sky News

28 December 2021

Christmas message

24 December 2021

Interview with Deborah Knight, 2GB

4 November 2021

Joint press conference - HMAS Stirling, Perth

29 October 2021

Interview with Geoff Hutchison, ABC Radio Perth

20 September 2021

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View full list of Minister transcript by The Hon Melissa Price MP

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