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Department of Defence (Australia)#Secretary, Department of Defence (SECDEF)

{{short description|Federal defence department of the Australian Government}}

{{Use Australian English|date=July 2016}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}

{{About|the civilian department of the Australian Public Service which supports the Australian Defence Force|the military force itself|Australian Defence Force}}

{{Infobox government agency

| agency_name = Department of Defence

| logo = File:Defence Australia logo.svg

| logo_size = 280px

| logo_caption = Logo of the Department of Defence

| formed = {{start date|df=yes|1942|04|14}}{{citation |title= CA 46: Department of Defence [III], Central Office |url=https://RecordSearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?Number=CA+46 |publisher= National Archives of Australia |access-date= 9 Feb 2021}}

| preceding1 = Department of Defence Co-ordination

| type = department

| jurisdiction = Australia

| headquarters = Canberra

| employees = 16,272 (2020){{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-30/australia-unveils-10-year-defence-strategy/12408232|title=Australia to spend $270b building larger military to prepare for 'poorer, more dangerous' world and rise of China|last1=Macmillan|first1=Jade|last2=Greene|first2=Andrew|date=30 June 2020|website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=9 July 2020}}

| budget = {{AUD}}37.82 billion (2019–20){{Cite web|url=https://www.defence.gov.au/Budget/19-20/2019-20_Defence_PBS_00_Complete.pdf|title=Portfolio Budget Statements 2019-20, Budget Related Paper No. 1.4A|website=Department of Defence|date=2019|access-date=9 July 2020}}

| minister1_name = Richard Marles

| minister1_pfo = Minister for Defence

| chief1_name = Greg Moriarty

| chief1_position = Secretary of the Department of Defence

| child1_agency = Defence Intelligence Organisation

| child2_agency = Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation

| child3_agency = Australian Signals Directorate

| child4_agency = Australian Submarine Agency

| website = {{URL|defence.gov.au}}

}}

The Department of Defence, also known simply as Defence, is a department of the Australian Government that is responsible for administering the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and its related entities, and is charged with the defence of Australia and its national interests.{{cite web |url= http://www.defence.gov.au/leaders/senior_mgrs.htm |title= Defence Leaders: Senior Managers |work =Department of Defence |publisher= Commonwealth of Australia |access-date= 10 November 2013}} Along with the ADF, it forms part of the larger Australian Defence Organisation (ADO) and is accountable to the Parliament of Australia, on behalf of the Australian people, for the efficiency and effectiveness with which it carries out government policy.

The executive head of the department, who leads it on a day-to-day basis, independent of a change of government, is the Secretary of the Department of Defence (SECDEF), currently Greg Moriarty. SECDEF reports to the Minister for Defence, Richard Marles.

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.{{cite news|url=http://guides.naa.gov.au/melbourne/chapter2/defence.aspx|title= Defence: Administrative History|publisher=National Archives of Australia|access-date=3 April 2019}}

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. The current Department of Defence was formally created in 1942, when Prime Minister John Curtin renamed the existing Department of Defence Co-ordination. The other defence-related departments underwent a series of reorganisations, before being merged into the primary department over the following decades. This culminated in the abolition of the three service departments in 1973. A new Department of Defence Support was created in 1982, but abolished in 1984.{{cite news|url=https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/AgencyDetail.aspx?reg_no=CA%2046|title=Department of Defence [III]|publisher=National Archives of Australia|access-date=3 April 2019}}

In May 2022, the Canberra Times reported that department had been renamed Defence Australia.{{cite news|url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/7740757/federal-department-drops-the-d-word-in-rebrand/|title=Federal department rebrands as Defence Australia|publisher=The Canberra Times}} However, the department's corporate documents continue to refer to it as the Department of Defence.{{cite web |title=Organisation structure |url=https://www.defence.gov.au/about/who-we-are/organisation-structure |access-date=11 February 2025}}

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.{{Cite web|title=Australian Strategic Policy Institute Limited Annual Report 2018-2019|url=https://www.transparency.gov.au/annual-reports/australian-strategic-policy-institute-limited/reporting-year/2018-2019-7|access-date=2023-03-31|website=www.transparency.gov.au|language=en}}

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.{{cite web |url=http://www.defence.gov.au/AboutUs.asp |title=Who we are and what we do |publisher= Australian Government Department of Defence |access-date=7 August 2017 }}

The members of the Defence Committee are:

{{colbegin|colwidth=}}

{{colend}}

Organisational groups

File:Russell Offices.JPG complex in Canberra]]

{{update|section|date=September 2022}}

{{as of|2016}} the Department of Defence consists of ten major organisational groups:{{cite web |url=http://www.defence.gov.au/Department/Default.asp#Groups |title=Groups: About us |work=Department of Defence |publisher=Australian Government |access-date=6 January 2016 }}

  • Associate Secretary Group{{spaced endash}}provides administrative, legal and governance services including audit and fraud control, security and vetting, the Judge Advocate General, and communications and ministerial support.
  • Chief Information Officer Group{{spaced endash}}leads the integrated design, cost effective delivery, and sustained operation of Defence information
  • Chief Finance Officer Group{{spaced endash}}to drive the financial and management improvement programs for Defence
  • Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG){{spaced endash}} Australia's largest project management organisation and its mission is to acquire and sustain equipment for the Australian Defence Force, created through the amalgamation of the Capability Development Group and Defence Materiel Organisation in 2015.{{cite web |url= http://www.defence.gov.au/publications/reviews/firstprinciples/Docs/FirstPrinciplesReviewB.pdf |title= First Principles Review: Creating One Defence |date= April 2015 |access-date= 1 June 2015 |author=Peever, David }}{{cite web |url=http://www.defence.gov.au/budget/15-16/Smaller_Goverment_2015.doc |title=Fact Sheet: Smaller Government: Defence Materiel Organisation: Reintegration into the Department of Defence |publisher=Department of Defence, Australian Government |date=May 2015 |format=MS Word }}
  • Defence People Group{{spaced endash}}human resource outcomes across the Defence employment cycle from strategy and policy development, through to implementation and service delivery
  • Defence Estate and Infrastructure Group{{spaced endash}}consolidated service delivery organisation for Defence that enables Defence capability by working in partnership to deliver integrated services through a highly capable workforce
  • Defence Science and Technology Group{{spaced endash}}lead agency charged with applying science and technology to protect and defend Australia and its national interests{{cite press release|title=Stop Press! Name Change|url=http://www.dsto.defence.gov.au/news/2015/07/31/stop-press-name-change|access-date=9 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919223409/http://www.dsto.defence.gov.au/news/2015/07/31/stop-press-name-change|archive-date=19 September 2015|url-status=live|date=31 July 2015|quote=As part of the First Principles Review implementation, from 1 July 2015 the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) has been renamed as the Defence Science and Technology Group.}}
  • Defence Strategic Policy and Intelligence Group{{spaced endash}}provides policy advice and coordination for strategy and intelligence for Defence, including overseeing the Defence Intelligence Organisation, Australian Signals Directorate, and the Australian Geospatial-Intelligence Organisation[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|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110912005237/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 |date=12 September 2011 }}, Australian Government Directory

Diarchy

The Chief of the Defence Force (CDF) and the Secretary of the Department of Defence (SECDEF) jointly manage the Australian Defence Organisation (ADO) under a diarchy in which both report directly to the Minister for Defence and the Assistant Minister for Defence. The ADO diarchy is a governance structure unique in the Australian Public Service.

List of departmental secretaries

The Secretary of the Department of Defence (SECDEF) is a senior public service officer and historically the appointees have not come from military service.

class="wikitable sortable"

! Name

Post-nominlal'sDate appointment
commenced		Date appointment
ceased		Term in officeNotesRef(s)
{{sortname|Captain Sir Muirhead|Collins|Muirhead Collins}}{{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|KCMG}}, PVNF

| {{dts|1901}}

{{dts|1910}}align=right| {{ayd|1901|1|1|1910|1|1}}Pethebridge was acting Secretary 1906–1910
{{nowrap| {{sortname|Brigadier General Sir Samuel|Pethebridge|Samuel Pethebridge}} }}{{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|KCMG}}

| {{dts|1910}}

{{dts|1918}}align=right| {{ayd|1910|1|1|1918|1|1}}Trumble was acting Secretary 1914–1918
{{sortname|Thomas|Trumble}}{{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|CMG|CBE}}

| {{dts|1918}}

{{dts|1927}}align=right| {{ayd|1918|1|1|1927|1|1}}
{{sortname|Malcolm|Shepherd|dab=public servant}}{{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|CMG|ISO}}

| {{dts|1927}}

{{dts|1937}}align=right| {{ayd|1927|1|1|1937|1|1}}
{{sortname|Sir Frederick|Shedden|Frederick Shedden}}{{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|KCMG|OBE}}

| {{dts|1937}}

{{dts|1956}}align=right| {{nowrap| {{ayd|1937|1|1|1956|10|28}} }}
{{sortname|Sir Edwin|Hicks|Ted Hicks}}{{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|CBE}}

| {{dts|28 October 1956}}

{{dts|5 January 1968}}align=right| {{ayd|1956|10|28|1968|1|5}}{{cite web |author-link=John Farquharson (journalist)|first=John|last=Farquharson|title=Hicks, Sir Edwin William (Ted) (1910–1984) |work=Australian Dictionary of Biography |publisher=National Centre of Biography, Australian National University |url=http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/hicks-sir-edwin-william-ted-12632/text22759 |access-date=10 November 2013 |year=2007 }}
{{sortname|Sir Henry|Bland|Henry Bland (public servant)}}| {{dts|1 May 1968}}{{dts|1970}}align=right| {{ayd|1968|1|5|1970|1|1}}{{cite web |author-link=John Farquharson (journalist)|first=John|last=Farquharson|title=Bland, Sir Henry (Harry) (1909–1997) |work=Obituaries Australia |publisher=National Centre of Biography, Australian National University |url=http://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/bland-sir-henry-harry-1549/text1611 |access-date=10 November 2013}}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
{{sortname|Sir Arthur|Tange|Arthur Tange}}{{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|AC|CBE}}

| {{dts|March 1970}}

{{dts|August 1979}}align=right| {{ayd|1970|5|1|1979|8|1}}{{cite book|url=http://www.ada.asn.au/assets/files/papers/ADSCWorkingPaper.pdf|title=Reform of the Defence Management Paradigm : A Fresh View|series=Working Paper Series|author=James, Lieutenant Colonel Neil|publisher=Strategic and Defence Studies Centre|date=May 2000|isbn=0-7317-0441-X|access-date=10 November 2013|page=40}}
{{sortname|Bill|Pritchett}}{{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|AO}}

| {{dts|August 1979}}

{{dts|6 February 1984}}align=right| {{ayd|1979|8|1|1984|2|6}}[http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/644102 NLA Catalogue]{{cite journal|author1=Jennings, Peter|author-link1=Peter Jennings|author2=Channer, Hayley|url=http://www.aspistrategist.org.au/look-behind-you-mr-richardson/|title=Look Behind You, Mr Richardson|journal=The Strategist|date=October 2012|publisher=Australian Strategic Policy Institute|access-date=10 November 2013}}
{{sortname|Sir William|Cole|William Cole (public servant)}}| {{dts|6 February 1984}}{{dts|15 October 1986}}align=right| {{ayd|1984|2|6|1986|10|15}}
{{sortname|Alan|Woods|dab=public servant}}{{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|AC}}

| {{dts|December 1986}}

{{dts|31 July 1988}}align=right| {{ayd|1986|12|1|1988|7|31}}
{{sortname|Tony|Ayers}}{{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|AC}}

| {{dts|1 August 1988}}

{{dts|February 1998}}align=right| {{ayd|1988|8|1|1998|2|1}}{{cite press release |url=http://pmtranscripts.dpmc.gov.au/browse.php?did=7330 |date=2 June 1988 |title=For the media |work=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |publisher=Commonwealth of Australia |author=Hawke, Bob |author-link=Bob Hawke |access-date=10 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110145443/http://pmtranscripts.dpmc.gov.au/browse.php?did=7330 |archive-date=10 November 2013 |df=dmy-all }}
{{sortname|Paul|Barratt}}{{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|AO}}

| {{dts|February 1998}}

{{dts|31 August 1999}}align=right| {{ayd|1998|2|1|1999|8|31}}Appointment terminated by the Governor-General on the recommendation of Prime Minister Howard.
Barratt fought the decision in the Federal Court, losing on appeal.		{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/pm/stories/s48205.htm|format=transcript|work=PM|location=Australia|author1=Colvin, Mark|author-link1=Mark Colvin|author2=Reynolds, Fiona|date=31 August 1999|access-date=10 November 2013|title=Barratt sacked}}{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/pm/stories/s109519.htm|format=transcript|work=PM|location=Australia|author1=Colvin, Mark|author-link1=Mark Colvin|author2=Reynolds, Fiona|date=10 March 2000|access-date=10 November 2013|title=Barrett loses appeal against dismissal}}
{{sortname|Dr Allan|Hawke|Allan Hawke}}{{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|AC}}{{dts|21 October 1999}}{{dts|20 October 2002}}align=right| {{ayd|1999|10|21|2002|10|20}}{{cite press release|author=Howard, John |author-link=John Howard|title=New Secretary to the Department of Defence|date=21 October 1999|access-date=10 November 2013|work=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia|url=http://pmtranscripts.dpmc.gov.au/browse.php?did=11267}}{{cite web|title=Defence Department Head Removed By Government|url=http://www.australianpolitics.com/news/2002/09/02-09-25.shtml|date=25 September 2002|access-date=10 November 2013|work=australianpolitics.com|author=Farnsworth, Malcolm}}
{{sortname|Ric|Smith}}{{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|AO|PSM}}

| {{dts|11 November 2002}}

{{dts|3 December 2006}}align=right|{{ayd|2002|11|11|2006|12|03}}{{cite press release|author=Howard, John|author-link=John Howard|title=Secretary – Department of Defence|date=2 November 2006|access-date=10 November 2013|work=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia|url=http://pmtranscripts.dpmc.gov.au/browse.php?did=22554|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110095919/http://pmtranscripts.dpmc.gov.au/browse.php?did=22554|archive-date=10 November 2013|url-status=dead}}
{{sortname|Nick|Warner}}{{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|AO|PSM}}{{dts|4 December 2006}}{{dts|13 August 2009}}align=right|{{ayd|2006|12|04|2009|08|13}}{{cite press release|author=Rudd, Kevin |author-link=Kevin Rudd |title=Departmental secretaries and statutory office-holders, Canberra |date=13 August 2009 |access-date=10 November 2013 |work=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |publisher=Commonwealth of Australia |url=http://pmtranscripts.dpmc.gov.au/browse.php?did=16752 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110095906/http://pmtranscripts.dpmc.gov.au/browse.php?did=16752 |archive-date=10 November 2013 |df=dmy }}{{cite news|url=http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/03/30/defence-is-simply-too-big-for-nick-warner/|title=Defence is simply too big for Nick Warner|author=Keane, Bernard|date=30 March 2009|work=Crikey|access-date=10 November 2013}}
{{sortname|Dr Ian|Watt|Ian Watt (public servant)}}{{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|AO}}{{dts|13 August 2009}}{{dts|5 September 2011}}align=right|{{ayd|2009|8|13|2011|9|5}}{{cite press release|author=Gillard, Julia|author-link=Julia Gillard|url=http://pmtranscripts.dpmc.gov.au/browse.php?did=18051|title=Departmental Secretaries|work=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia|date=4 August 2011|access-date=29 October 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101004511/http://pmtranscripts.dpmc.gov.au/browse.php?did=18051|archive-date=1 November 2013|df=dmy-all}}
{{sortname|Major General Duncan|Lewis|Duncan Lewis}}{{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|AO|DSC|CSC}}

| {{dts|5 September 2011}}

{{dts|18 October 2012}}align=right|{{ayd|2011|9|5|2012|10|18}}
{{sortname|Dennis|Richardson|dab=diplomat}}{{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|AO}}{{dts|18 October 2012}}{{dts|12 May 2017}}align=right|{{ayd|2012|10|18|2017|05|12}}{{cite press release|author=Gillard, Julia|author-link=Julia Gillard|url=http://pmtranscripts.dpmc.gov.au/browse.php?did=18795|title=Diplomatic Appointment and Appointment of Secretaries of the Department of Defence and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade|date=17 September 2012|work=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet|access-date=27 October 2013|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220082849/http://pmtranscripts.dpmc.gov.au/browse.php?did=18795|archive-date=20 December 2014|df=dmy-all}}
{{sortname|Greg|Moriarty}}{{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|sep=,|AO}}{{dts|4 September 2017}}Incumbent

| align="right" |{{ayd|2017|9|4}}

{{cite press release|author=Turnbull, Malcolm|author-link=Malcolm Turnbull|url=https://www.pm.gov.au/media/2017-07-28/secretary-department-defence|title=Secretary of the Department of Defence|date=28 July 2017|work=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet|access-date=28 July 2017|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia}}

See also

{{Portal|Australia|Politics}}

References

{{reflist|30em}}

External links

  • [http://www.defence.gov.au/ Department of Defence website]
  • {{cite web |url=http://www.defence.gov.au/Publications/docs/DefenceOrgChart.pdf |title=Defence Organisational Structure Chart |work=Department of Defence |publisher=Commonwealth of Australia |date=21 September 2015}}
  • {{cite web |url=http://www.defence.gov.au/Leaders/ |title= Defence Senior Leaders |publisher=Department of Defence |year=2016}}
  • {{cite web |url=http://www.defence.gov.au/Secretary/ |title=Dennis Richardson AO |work=Biography of the Secretary of the Department of Defence |publisher=Department of Defence |year=2016}}

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