# Minister for Defence Personnel

In the Government of Australia, the Minister for Defence Personnel is a position which is currently held by Matt Keogh, after the Albanese ministry was sworn in on 1 June 2022, following the 2022 Australian federal election.
The ministerial portfolio has existed under various names since 1987. The Minister appointed is responsible for oversight of defence personnel and administered the portfolio through the Department of Defence, the Australian Defence Force, the Australian Defence Force Academy, and a range of other agencies.
While ultimately responsible to the Commonwealth of Australia and the Parliament, in practical terms, the minister reports to the Minister for Defence.

## List of ministers for defence personnel

The following individuals have been appointed as Minister for Defence Personnel, or any of its precedent titles:
| Order | Minister | Party | Prime Minister | Title | Term start | Term end | Term in office |
| 1 | Ros Kelly | Labor | Hawke | Minister for Defence Science and Personnel | 18 September 1987 (1987-09-18) | 6 April 1989 (1989-04-06) | 1 year, 200 days |
| 2 | David Simmons | Labor | Hawke | Minister for Defence Science and Personnel | 6 April 1989 (1989-04-06) | 4 April 1990 (1990-04-04) | 363 days |
| 3 | Gordon Bilney | Labor | Hawke | Minister for Defence Science and Personnel | 4 April 1990 (1990-04-04) | 20 December 1991 (1991-12-20) | 2 years, 354 days |
| 3 | Gordon Bilney | Labor | Keating | Minister for Defence Science and Personnel | 20 December 1991 (1991-12-20) | 24 March 1993 (1993-03-24) | 2 years, 354 days |
| 4 | John Faulkner | Labor | Keating | Minister for Defence Science and Personnel | 24 March 1993 (1993-03-24) | 25 March 1994 (1994-03-25) | 1 year, 1 day |
| 5 | Gary Punch | Labor | Keating | Minister for Defence Science and Personnel | 25 March 1994 (1994-03-25) | 11 March 1996 (1996-03-11) | 1 year, 352 days |
| 6 | Bronwyn Bishop | Liberal | Howard | Minister for Defence Industry, Science and Personnel | 11 March 1996 (1996-03-11) | 21 October 1998 (1998-10-21) | 2 years, 224 days |
| 7 | Warren Snowdon | Labor | Rudd | Minister for Defence Science and Personnel | 3 December 2007 (2007-12-03) | 9 June 2009 (2009-06-09) | 1 year, 188 days |
| 8 | Greg Combet | Labor | Rudd | Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science | 9 June 2009 (2009-06-09) | 1 April 2010 (2010-04-01) | 296 days |
| 9 | Alan Griffin | Labor | Rudd | Minister for Defence Personnel | 1 April 2010 (2010-04-01) | 24 June 2010 (2010-06-24) | 166 days |
| 9 | Alan Griffin | Labor | Gillard | Minister for Defence Personnel | 24 June 2010 (2010-06-24) | 14 September 2010 (2010-09-14) | 166 days |
| (7) | Warren Snowdon | Labor | Gillard | Minister for Defence Science and Personnel | 14 September 2010 (2010-09-14) | 27 June 2013 (2013-06-27) | 3 years, 4 days |
| (7) | Warren Snowdon | Labor | Rudd | Minister for Defence Science and Personnel | 27 June 2013 (2013-06-27) | 18 September 2013 (2013-09-18) | 3 years, 4 days |
| 10 | Mal Brough | Liberal | Turnbull | Minister for Defence Materiel and Science | 21 September 2015 (2015-09-21) | 29 December 2015 (2015-12-29) | 99 days |
| acting | Marise Payne | Liberal | Turnbull | Acting Minister for Defence Materiel and Science | 29 December 2015 (2015-12-29) | 18 February 2016 (2016-02-18) | 51 days |
| 11 | Dan Tehan | Liberal | Turnbull | Minister for Defence Personnel | 19 July 2016 (2016-07-19) | 20 December 2017 (2017-12-20) | 1 year, 154 days |
| 12 | Michael McCormack | Nationals | Turnbull | Minister for Defence Personnel | 20 December 2017 (2017-12-20) | 5 March 2018 (2018-03-05) | 75 days |
| 13 | Darren Chester | Nationals | Turnbull | Minister for Defence Personnel | 5 March 2018 (2018-03-05) | 28 August 2018 (2018-08-28) | 3 years, 119 days |
| 13 | Darren Chester | Nationals | Morrison | Minister for Defence Personnel | 28 August 2018 (2018-08-28) | 2 July 2021 (2021-07-02) | 3 years, 119 days |
| 14 | Andrew Gee | Nationals | Morrison | Minister for Defence Personnel | 2 July 2021 (2021-07-02) | 23 May 2022 (2022-05-23) | 325 days |
| 15 | Matt Keogh | Labor | Albanese | Minister for Defence Personnel Minister for Veterans' Affairs | 1 June 2022 (2022-06-01) | incumbent | 2 years, 131 days |