Statement on Ministerial changes

Today I had the honour of being sworn in as a Cabinet Minister under changes to the Ministry team announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the Prime Minister for giving me the opportunity to continue to serve as part of a united team that is focused on delivering for Australians.

I would also like to thank Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong for their support, which has been invaluable in delivering better outcomes in the portfolios for which I have had responsibility since the Albanese Government was elected in May 2022.

It is worth noting that this will be the first time a minister directly responsible for the Pacific has been in Cabinet. It is also the first time since the Keating Government that a minister for international development has been in Cabinet. This is a clear demonstration of the importance the Albanese Government places on our relationships with the Pacific family and our commitment to supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous future for Australia and our region.

As the Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery, I will continue to be a passionate advocate for growing our local defence industry as part of a future made in Australia.

Since coming to office, the Albanese Government has boosted spending on defence to record levels after years of neglect. The elevation of the defence industry portfolio to Cabinet and emphasis on capability delivery reinforces our commitment to a responsible use of taxpayer funds as we modernise the Australian Defence Force and provide it with the capabilities it needs to safeguard Australians.