MEMBER for Wannon Dan Tehan has been named as Minister for Veterans Affairs and Minister for Defence Materiel in Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s second ministerial reshuffle on Saturday.
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He will also serve as the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of Anzac
Mr Tehan replaces Stuart Robert as Veterans Affairs Minister and Senator Marise Payne, who has been acting as Minister for Defence Materiel since Mal Brough stood down from that role in December.
Mr Robert resigned this week after breaching ministerial rules about conflicts of interest.
The Defence Material portfolio means Mr Tehan is responsible for ensuring the Australian Defence Force is suitably equipped and supplied.
As Minister for Veterans Affairs, Mr Tehan will oversee income support, compensation, care and commemoration programs for more than 400,000 veterans and their widows, widowers and dependants.
He is expected to be sworn in by Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove on Thursday.
Mr Tehan has been the chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security.
He said his ministerial appointments were “a great honour.”
“I am humbled by this appointment, but excited to be asked to serve in Prime Minister Turnbull’s Ministry,” he said.
“As Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, it is vital that we never forget the service and sacrifice of the men and women who served our country.
“As Minister for Defence Materiel, I look forward to assisting the Minister for Defence in overseeing defence procurement, project and sustainment management, materiel engineering and logistics.
“I would like to thank the people of Wannon as without their support it would not be possible to serve as a Minister,” Mr Tehan said.
“I look forward to continuing to deliver positive outcomes for my electorate and ensuring their views are strongly represented in the Australian Parliament.
“I also look forward to continuing my work supporting the Turnbull government’s agenda of growth and innovation which will help secure our prosperity for the future,” he said.
Mr Tehan was elected in the 2010 general election to the House of Representatives following the retirement of David Hawker.
As an adviser in the Howard Government, Mr Tehan was a senior adviser to the Minister for Trade and spent two years as the Chief of Staff to the Minister for Small Business and Tourism.