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Payne unable to nominate senior minister in Defence portfolio

Wednesday, 19 Oct 2016 08:27:21 | Andrew Greene

Senator Marise Payne told a Defence Committee Hearing she and Christopher Pyne are of equal rank. (ABC News: Luke Stephenson)

Defence Minister Marise Payne has been unable to say whether she or Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne is considered the "senior" minister in the portfolio.

She went on to say the pair were of equal rank.

Senator Payne has promised to reveal her precise portfolio responsibilities and those of her frontbench colleagues Christopher Pyne and Dan Tehan, after departmental officials and military companies warned the current Defence ministerial arrangements were causing confusion.

The ABC yesterday revealed the Government was yet to publicly say what the individual powers are for the Defence Minister, the Defence Industry Minister and Defence Personnel Minister.

Under questioning in Senate Estimates, Defence Minister Marise Payne confirmed she and her frontbench Defence colleagues last month received Charter Letters from the Prime Minister outlining their precise responsibilities.

"I can provide a list if you like for myself, for the Minister for Defence Industry (Christopher Pyne), the Minister for Defence Personnel (Dan Tehan)," Minister Payne told the estimates hearing.

"I don't have it here with me but I'll provide that to the committee in due course."

Defence trio Photo: Marise Payne, Christopher Pyne and Dan Tehan are yet to publicly confirm their precise ministerial powers. (Supplied: Australian Government)

Earlier the Defence Minister insisted she and Mr Pyne were handling the large portfolio well.

"When you look across the vastness of the portfolio and you pay some attention to the historical splits that have been made in defence by governments of both hues, I think it's a very logical arrangement and one which is working beautifully," Senator Payne said.

Defence Department Secretary Dennis Richardson has conceded there have been some "hiccups" as a result of the Turnbull Government's ministerial arrangements for the large portfolio, but insists having three frontbenchers share duties is working.

"By and large it's been relatively smooth, there's been the odd hiccup which you would expect in any new arrangement but it has worked pretty well," Mr Richardson told the committee.

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