Department of Defence (Australia)
| Department of Defence | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Agency overview | |
| Jurisdiction | Commonwealth of Australia |
| Headquarters | Canberra |
| Employees | 65,647 |
| Annual budget | A$26.35 billion (08/09) A$42 billion (11/12) |
| Ministers responsible | Stephen Smith, Minister for Defence Warren Snowdon, Minister for Defence Science and Personnel Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Defence Materiel Mike Kelly, Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Senator David Feeney, Parliamentary Secretary for Defence |
| Agency executive | MAJGEN Duncan Lewis, AO, DSC, CSC (Ret'd), Secretary, Department of Defence (SECDEF) |
| Parent Agency | Australian Defence Organisation (ADO) |
| Child agencies | Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) Defence Signals Directorate (DSD) Defence Intelligence Group Defence Housing Australia Frontline Defence Services Army Amenities Fund[1] |
| Website | |
| www.defence.gov.au | |
The Australian Department of Defence is a Federal Government Department. It forms part of the Australian Defence Organisation (ADO) along with the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The Defence mission is to defend Australia and its national interests. It is accountable to the Commonwealth Parliament, on behalf of the Australian people, for the efficiency and effectiveness with which it carries out the Government's defence policy.
Contents |
[edit] Organisational groups
The Department of Defence consists of 11 major organisational groups:
- Capability Development Group
- Chief Finance Officer Group
- Chief Information Officer Group
- Defence Materiel Organisation
- Defence Science and Technology Organisation
- Defence Support Group
- Intelligence and Security Group[2]
- People Strategies and Policy
- Strategy, Coordination and Governance
(The Australian Defence Force (ADF) consists of the uniformed groups. i.e. RAN, Army, RAAF, JOC and VCDF.)
The Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO) is a prescribed agency responsible for acquisition, sustainment and disposal of Defence equipment. Although the DMO forms part of the Department of Defence, it is also separately accountable to the Minister for its budget and performance.
[edit] Diarchy
The Chief of the Defence Force (CDF) and the Secretary, Department of Defence (SECDEF) jointly manage the Australian Defence Organisation (ADO) under a "diarchy", a term used to describe the relationship between the CDF and Secretary, who both report directly to the Minister. The ADO diarchy is a governance structure unique in the Australian Commonwealth public service.
[edit] Secretary, Department of Defence (SECDEF)
| Name | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sir Muirhead Collins KCMG | 1901–1910 | Pethebridge was acting Secretary 1906–1910 |
| Brig Gen Sir Samuel Pethebridge, KCMG | 1910–1918 | Trumble was acting Secretary 1914–1918 |
| Thomas Trumble, CMG | 1918–1927 | |
| Malcolm Shepherd, CMG | 1927–1937 | |
| Sir Frederick Shedden, KCMG, OBE | 1937–1956 | |
| Sir Edwin Hicks, CBE | 1956-1968 | |
| Arthur Tange, AC CBE | c.1970 | |
| Tony Ayers, AC | 1988-1998 | |
| Paul Barratt, AO | 1998-1999 | |
| Allan Hawke, AC | 1999–2002 | |
| Ric Smith, AO PSM | 2002–2006 | |
| Nick Warner, AO PSM | 2006–2009 | |
| Dr Ian Watt, AO | 2009–2011 | |
| MAJGEN Duncan Lewis, AO, DSC, CSC (Ret'd) | 2011 – Incumbent |
[edit] See also
- Australian Defence Organisation
- Current senior Australian Defence Organisation personnel
- Minister for Defence
- Minister for Defence Science and Personnel
- Minister for Veterans' Affairs
- List of Australian Commonwealth Government entities
[edit] References
- ^ Flipchart of FMA Act Agencies, finance.gov.au
- ^ Intelligence and Security Group, Australian Government Directory
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This article needs additional citations for verification. (September 2010) |
[edit] External links
- Department of Defence Website
- Department of Defence leaders
- Secretary of Defence
- Department of Defence Organisational Structure
- Department of Defence Senior Management
