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| Australian Minister for Defence: Senator Marise Payne |
By Nigel Pittaway
MELBOURNE, Australia — Marise Payne was sworn in Sept. 21 as Australia's new defense minister , becoming the third person in less than a year to hold the portfolio.
Payne replaces Kevin Andrews, who lost his job as part of a Cabinet reshuffle in the wake of a Sept. 14 Liberal government leadership change that ousted Tony Abbott as prime minister in favor of Malcolm Turnbull. Andrews had held the post only since December when he replaced the fired Sen. David Johnston.
The leadership churn is causing concern in the Australian Defence Organisation and among industry as several major acquisition projects are awaiting decisions. Prime among these are the Future Submarine (Sea 1000) project, which is now in the midst of a competitive evaluation process (CEP) to select a replacement for the Royal Australian Navy’s Collins-class boats, and the Future Frigate (Sea 5000), for which a CEP is set to begin in October.
Together with the offshore patrol vessel to be acquired under Project Sea 1180, the frigate and submarine programs will determine the future of Australia’s naval shipbuilding industry, which is facing dire straits after completion of the three air warfare destroyers now under construction in South Australia.
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