ADM welcomes the appointment of three Ministers to the Defence portfolio, following the swearing in of the new Gillard government in early September.
Western Australian Stephen Smith becomes Minister for Defence, having yielded his Foreign Affairs portfolio to former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
It is understood that Defence was Smith’s choice and ADM welcomes his appointment.
Western Australia, of course, is home to one of Australia’s key naval bases at HMAS Stirling, the homeport of Australia’s submarine fleet.
Warren Snowdon is Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Science & Personnel and Jason Clare has been appointed Minister for Defence Materiel.
Jason Clare holds former Prime Minister Paul Keating’s seat of Blaxland in south western Sydney.
The new appointment is a promotion for Clare from his previous role as Parliamentary Secretary for Employment.
ADM will be seeking the first available opportunity to do an indepth interview with the new Defence Materiel Minister who will have a significant influence on the Defence/industry relationship in Australia.
David Feeney has replaced Dr Mike Kelly as Parliamentary Secretary for Defence.
Senator Feeney represents Victoria and was first elected to Parliament in 2007.
While disappointment has been expressed in some quarters about the highly regarded Greg Combet being moved out of the Defence portfolio and former Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Mike Kelly being moved to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry portfolio, changes are inevitable when a new ministerial team is appointed.
On the Opposition benches David Johnston continues as Shadow Minister for Defence while Gary Humphries has been elevated to Parliamentary Secretary for Attorney-General and Defence Materiel.