A member of Prime Minister Morrison’s Cabinet, he is responsible for the Government’s plan, outlined in the 2016 Defence White Paper, to invest $195 billion in building Australia’s Defence capability over the next 10 years.

In 2017 Minister Ciobo worked closely with now Defence Minister Pyne to develop the Defence Export Strategy, including the creation of the $3.8 billion Defence Export Facility managed by the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation.

Previously Mr Ciobo was Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment. In this role he pursued the most ambitious trade agenda in Australia’s history, concluding four trade agreements covering 19 countries and launching negotiations with the European Union, Hong Kong and Pacific Alliance. Minister Ciobo concluded the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), the history making Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with Indonesia, and deals with Peru, Singapore, and Pacific Island countries.

As Investment Minister, Minister Ciobo engaged with the international investment community to promote and facilitate foreign investment into Australia. During his term as Investment Minister the total stock of foreign investment rose by more than $233 billion. In his previous role as Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, Minister Ciobo assessed more than 800 applications for business investment under Australia’s foreign investment framework.

As Tourism Minister, Minister Ciobo delivered record revenue for Tourism Australia, allowing the agency to promote Australia overseas like never before. During his time as Minister, Australia welcomed a record number of tourists who set new spending records. His stewardship saw the successful launch of the ‘son of Crocodile Dundee’ campaign in the US and the Year of Australia-China Tourism. Minister Ciobo created the Boosting Business Events Bid Fund within Tourism Australia to drive the most successful business events program in Australia.

This is Minister Ciobo’s sixth front bench role. He also served as a Shadow Minister in the Nelson, Turnbull and Abbott Oppositions. Minister Ciobo has previously served as Australia’s Alternate Governor to the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Before entering the Australian Parliament as the Federal Member for Moncrieff in 2001 Minister Ciobo built a professional career as an executive in the economic reform unit at international firms Coopers & Lybrand and, later, PricewaterhouseCoopers. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Laws from Bond University, as well as a Master of Laws from the Queensland University of Technology. Minister Ciobo is married with two children.