Statements

Statement on Cabinet Appointment

I am honoured by the Prime Minister’s announcement of my appointment to the Cabinet. The elevation of the Defence Industry portfolio is recognition of the critical role defence industry plays in the Morrison Government’s plans for post-COVID economic recovery and capability delivery for the…

Statement from the Minister for Defence

On Friday 5 March 2021, I publicly apologised to Ms Brittany Higgins about the comment about her to my staff on 15 February 2021. I wish to further address the comment that I made. I did not mean it in the sense it may have been understood. Given that the comment was made public, which I never…

Statement from the Minister for Defence

On the advice of her cardiologist, Defence Minister Linda Reynolds will extend her medical leave to April 2. On Tuesday March 2 Senator Reynolds was re-assessed by her cardiologist in relation to a preexisting medical condition, which had earlier required her to take a brief period of leave. The…

Statement from the Minister for Defence

A report in the Australian attributed some remarks to me regarding the very serious allegations made by my former staff member, Ms Brittany Higgins. I have never questioned Ms Higgins' account of her alleged sexual assault and have always sought to respect her agency in this matter. In response to…

Statement from the Minister for Defence

A report in The Australian attributed some remarks to me regarding the very serious allegations made by my former staff member, Ms Brittany Higgins.  I have never questioned Ms Higgins' account of her alleged sexual assault and have always sought to respect her agency in this matter.  I did however…

Australian Defence Force support to vaccine rollout in aged care

Joint Statement:  SENATOR THE HON MARISE PAYNE, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Women, Acting Minister for Defence THE HON GREG HUNT MP, Minister for Health and Aged Care Over 14,000 Defence personnel, through Operation COVID-19 ASSIST, have already supported the national response to the…

Statement from The Minister for Defence

The Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC, will take a period of medical leave. This follows advice from her cardiologist relating to a pre-existing medical condition. As a precautionary measure, Minister Reynolds has this morning been admitted to a Canberra Hospital. The Prime…

Statement from Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel

Reappointed Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Darren Chester says continuing to deliver and promote better outcomes for military families will remain his primary focus. Mr Chester said he was honoured to remain in the roles he has held since March 2018 and would focus on changing…

Joint statement from Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Defence of the Republic of Singapore and Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC, Minister for Defence of Australia

Defence Ministers of Australia and Singapore, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC and Dr Ng Eng Hen, conducted a video conference today to mark 30 years of the Singapore Armed Forces training at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area, and the ratification of the Singapore-Australia Treaty on Military…

Joint Declaration by the ADMM-Plus Defence Ministers on Strategic Security Vision of the ADMM-Plus

WE, the Defence Ministers of the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Australia, the People's Republic of China, the Republic of India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the Russian Federation, and the United States of America, met via videoconference on 10…

FPDA Defence Ministers' Joint Statement

The Defence Ministers from Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and United Kingdom reaffirmed their nations’ continued commitment to the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA), and commended the achievements over the past 49 years as the FPDA moves towards its 50th Anniversary in 2021.   The…

IGADF Afghanistan Inquiry findings

The men and women who serve in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) have earned our respect for keeping us safe in an ever-changing world. We ask a lot of every person who puts on the Defence uniform and the last 20 years has seen one of the highest operational tempos in our military history. During…