Department of Defence (Australia)

History

Australia has had at least one defence-related government department since Federation in 1901. The first Department of Defence existed from 1901 until 1921. In 1915, during World War I, a separate Department of the Navy was created. The two departments merged in 1921 to form the second Department of Defence, regarded as a separate body.

A major departmental reorganisation occurred in the lead-up to World War II. The Department of Defence was abolished and replaced with six smaller departments – the Defence Co-ordination (for defence policy, financial, and administrative matters), three "service departments" (Army, Navy, and Air), the Supply and Development (for munitions and materiel), and Civil Aviation.

In May 2022, The Canberra Times reported that department had been renamed Defence Australia. However, the department's corporate documents continue to refer to it as the Department of Defence.

The Australian Department of Defence, along with the Australian state and other governments, partially fund the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), a defence and strategic policy think tank based in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory.

Defence Committee

The Defence Committee is the primary decision-making committee in the Department of Defence, supported by six subordinate committees, groups and boards. The Defence Committee is focused on major capability development and resource management for the Australian Defence Organisation and shared accountability of the Secretary and the Chief of the Defence Force.

The members of the Defence Committee are:

• Secretary of the Department of Defence (SECDEF)
• Chief of the Defence Force (CDF)
• Vice Chief of the Defence Force (VCDF)
• Associate Secretary
• Chief of Navy (CN)
• Chief of Army (CA)
• Chief of Air Force (CAF)
• Chief of Joint Operations (CJOPS)
• Deputy Secretary for Capability Acquisition and Sustainment
• Deputy Secretary for Strategic Policy and Intelligence
• Chief Defence Scientist (CDS)
• Chief of Joint Capabilities (CJC)
• Chief Information Officer (CIO)
• Chief Finance Officer (CFO)
• Deputy Secretary for People
• Deputy Secretary for Estate and Infrastructure

Organisational groups

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References

References

1. "CA 46: Department of Defence [III], Central Office". National Archives of Australia.
2. (30 June 2020). "Australia to spend $270b building larger military to prepare for 'poorer, more dangerous' world and rise of China".
3. (2019). "Portfolio Budget Statements 2019-20, Budget Related Paper No. 1.4A".
4. (n.d.). "Defence mission".
5. "Defence: Administrative History". National Archives of Australia.
6. "Department of Defence [III]". National Archives of Australia.
7. "Federal department rebrands as Defence Australia". The Canberra Times.
8. "Organisation structure".
9. "Australian Strategic Policy Institute Limited Annual Report 2018-2019".
10. "Who we are and what we do". Australian Government Department of Defence.
11. "Groups: About us". Australian Government.
12. Peever, David. (April 2015). "First Principles Review: Creating One Defence".
13. (May 2015). "Fact Sheet: Smaller Government: Defence Materiel Organisation: Reintegration into the Department of Defence". Department of Defence, Australian Government.
14. (31 July 2015). "Stop Press! Name Change".
15. [http://www.directory.gov.au/osearch.php?ou%3DIntelligence%20and%20Security%20Group%2Cou%3DDepartment%20of%20Defence%2Co%3DDefence%2Co%3DPortfolios%2Co%3DCommonwealth%20of%20Australia%2Cc%3DAU&changebase Intelligence and Security Group] {{Webarchive. link. (12 September 2011 , Australian Government Directory)
16. Farquharson, John. (2007). "Hicks, Sir Edwin William (Ted) (1910–1984)". National Centre of Biography, [[Australian National University]].
17. Farquharson, John. "Bland, Sir Henry (Harry) (1909–1997)". National Centre of Biography, [[Australian National University]].
18. Mitcham, Chad J. ‘Bland, Sir Henry Armand (Harry) (1909-1997)’, ''Australian Dictionary of Biography'', National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/bland-sir-henry-armand-harry-1549/text41469
19. James, Lieutenant Colonel Neil. (May 2000). "Reform of the Defence Management Paradigm : A Fresh View". [[Strategic and Defence Studies Centre]].
20. [http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/644102 NLA Catalogue]
21. (October 2012). "Look Behind You, Mr Richardson". [[Australian Strategic Policy Institute]].
22. Hawke, Bob. (2 June 1988). "For the media". [[Commonwealth of Australia]].
23. (31 August 1999). "Barratt sacked". [[PM (ABC Radio).
24. (10 March 2000). "Barrett loses appeal against dismissal". [[PM (ABC Radio).
25. Farnsworth, Malcolm. (25 September 2002). "Defence Department Head Removed By Government". australianpolitics.com.
26. Keane, Bernard. (30 March 2009). "Defence is simply too big for Nick Warner". [[Crikey]].
27. Gillard, Julia. (17 September 2012). "Diplomatic Appointment and Appointment of Secretaries of the Department of Defence and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade". [[Commonwealth of Australia]].
28. Turnbull, Malcolm. (28 July 2017). "Secretary of the Department of Defence". [[Commonwealth of Australia]].