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Senator Linda Reynolds sworn in as Australia’s Defence Minister

written by WOFA | May 29, 2019

New Minister for Defence, Senator Linda Reynolds on the flight deck of HMAS Canberra with (L-R), Deputy Commander of Joint Task Force 661, CAPT Andrew Quinn; Commander of Joint Task Force 661, AIRCDRE Richard Owen, and Commanding Officer HMAS Canberra, CAPT Ashley Papp. (DEFENCE)
New Minister for Defence, Senator Linda Reynolds on the flight deck of HMAS Canberra with (L-R), Deputy Commander of Joint Task Force 661, CAPT Andrew Quinn; Commander of Joint Task Force 661, AIRCDRE Richard Owen, and Commanding Officer HMAS Canberra, CAPT Ashley Papp. (DEFENCE)

Senator Linda Reynolds has been officially sworn in as Australia’s new Defence Minister by Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove.

The swearing-in ceremony of the ministry, which Prime Minister Scott Morrison named over the weekend, took place at Government House in Canberra on Wednesday.

Prior to the May 18 2019 election, Senator Reynolds was Minister for Defence Industry, which she had held since March 2018 following the resignation of Stephen Ciobo. The Prime Minister had named Senator Reynolds to take over from Pyne should the Coalition be returned to government.

Senator Reynolds was an Australian Army Reserve officer from 1984 to 2012, rising to the rank of Brigadier, and was awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross in the 2011 Australia Day honours list. She is a graduate of the Australian Command and Staff College, and the Centre for Defence and Strategic Studies.

She has held the roles of Senior Training and Development Officer, Army Command and Staff Training College Command; Project Director/Strategic Performance and training Analyst, Canberra Deep Space Communications Complex; Commanding Officer, 5th Combat Support Battalion; Military Instructor, Army Command and Staff College; Project Director, Army-based Accountability Model Implementation Project; Director Army Strategic Reform Program; and Army Adjutant General.

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Among the other portfolios, Alex Hawke was promoted to the position of Assistant Defence Minister, while Melissa Price was given the Minister for Defence Industry portfolio, having been Environment Minister prior to the election.

National Party leader and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack remains Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, which is responsible for aviation-related matters.

Meanwhile, McCormack’s Nationals colleague Darren Chester will continue as Minister for veterans Affairs portfolio.

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