Australian Federal election 2025: defence and foreign policy experience in the new parliament

The Australian Federal Election was held on 3 May 2025, resulting in the re-election of the Australian Labor Party as the Government of Australia, led by Prime Minister The Hon Anthony Albanese MP. The full Federal Ministry was subsequently announced on 13 May, which saw a great deal of stability across key national security and internationally-focused portfolios, including:

• Minister for Defence (and Deputy Prime Minister): The Hon Richard Marles MP
• Minister for Foreign Affairs (and Leader of the Government in the Senate): Senator the Hon Penny Wong
• Minister for Trade and Tourism (and Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate): Senator the Hon Don Farrell
• Minister for Home Affairs, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Minister for Cyber Security (and Leader of the House): The Hon Tony Burke MP

Overall, stability and continuity seems to be the watchword of the day. The full list is available here, including a number of new and reshuffled Ministers and Assistant Ministers.

At time of writing, though, we are yet to see a Shadow Ministry from the Liberal-National Coalition, in large part because of the historic split between the Liberal Party and National Party – the first in nearly 40 years. With that divide looking set to be rectified, an announcement is expected shortly.

Nonetheless, as part of preparations for an episode of The National Security Podcast which I recorded last week, I turned my mind to who might be well placed to fill national security and international portfolios from the Liberal Party (given post-split they would have formed the Opposition on their own).

To be clear, I have no idea who will be appointed (an announcement is expected this week), this is just a list of those with relevant prior expertise, whether before or during their parliamentary careers (in alphabetical order).

One final note: reporting today suggests that Angus Taylor will be appointed as Shadow Minister for Defence, Dan Tehan as Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, and James Paterson re-appointed as Shadow Minister for Home Affairs, with Andrew Hastie seeking an economic or social policy portfolio, but watch this space!

• Senator Claire Chandler: formerly Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy, Shadow Minister for Science and the Arts, Shadow Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, and member of the Joint Standing Committe on Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Trade (JSCFADT) and Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT).
• Senator Dr Jessica Collins: incoming Senator for NSW from 1 July 2025, previously worked for the Lowy Institute as Project Director, Australia-Papua New Guinea Network and Research Fellow in the Pacific Islands Program at the Lowy Institute.
• The Hon Andrew Hastie MP: previously Shadow Minister for Defence, Shadow Minister for Defence Industry, and Shadow Minister for Defence Personnel. Former member of JSCFADT and the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS), and Australian Army officer.
• Julian Leeser MP: previously Shadow Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs. Former Shadow Attorney-General and member of PJCIS.
• Zoe McKenzie MP: previously a member of PJCIS. Formerly worked in international trade.
• Senator Andrew McLachlan CSC: previously a member of JSCFADT. Formerly member of the Australian Army Reserve.
• Senator James Paterson: previously Shadow Minister for Home Affairs, Minister for Cyber Security. Former member of PJCIS, including as Chair.
• Senator Dave Sharma: previously Chair of JSCFADT References Committee and Deputy Chair of JSCFADT Legislation Committee. Former member of JSCOT, including as Chair, and an Australian diplomat and Ambassador to Israel.
• The Hon Dan Tehan MP: previously Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship. Formerly held a range of ministerial portfolios, including as Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Minister for Defence Personnel, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Minister for Defence Materiel. Former member of PJCIS, including as Chair, and an Australian diplomat.
• Phillip Thompson OAM MP: previously Shadow Assistant Minister for Defence, Shadow Assistant Minister for Defence Industry, and Shadow Assistant Minister for Defence Personnel. Former member of JSCFADT and JSCOT, including as Deputy Chair, and soldier in the Australian Army.
• Andrew Wallace MP: previously Deputy Chair of PJCIS and Deputy Chair of JSCFADT Defence Subcommittee. Former member of JSCOT.