New plan of attack for Defence under Peter Dutton

National security strategists say Peter Dutton’s top priority as Defence Minister will be to urgently deliver new capabilities and get mega-programs like the $90bn Attack-class submarines on track.

New Defence Minister Peter Dutton. Picture: AFP

National security strategists say Peter Dutton’s top priority as Defence Minister will be to urgently deliver new capabilities and get mega-programs like the $90bn Attack-class submarines on track.

Labor said Mr Dutton’s appointment as the sixth defence minister in eight years, replacing Linda Reynolds, was about “shuffling the deckchairs” rather than improving performance.

But the Australian Strategic Policy Institute’s national security program director, Michael Shoebridge, said his appointment would energise the department.

“This is big news for Defence … because I think he will come with ideas and directions right from the start,” Mr Shoebridge said.

“I think he is going to grab the Defence Strategic Update and ­realise the urgency of delivery, and push Defence to do a whole lot of things … that aren’t happening at the speed required.”

The update, released last year, stated that Australia could no longer rely on having 10 years’ warning time to prepare for a ­potential major conflict.

Mr Shoebridge said addressing this new strategic reality required a minister who would “drive ­Defence, not just leave it to the ­organisation to naturally do it at its own pace”.

“Dutton will bring that kind of urgency and drive to the job, which I think will be a good thing,” he said.

Head of the ANU’s Defence and Strategic Studies Centre Brendan Sargeant said Mr Dutton had been on cabinet’s national security committee for many years, “so he won’t be unfamiliar with the key issues”.

“Every defence minister tries to be a can-do minister. He will have to decide what is important and what he will focus on, because he won’t be able to do everything,” Professor Sergeant said.

“Defence is not in bad shape. The real issue is whether it can ­implement the Defence Strategic Update 2020.

“That’s really about a big re­orientation from the Middle East to the Indo-Pacific. He hasn’t had a voice on that. He brings all the advantages of being a senior minister, but he is a new player.”

After his appointment, Mr Dutton said there was “no greater honour than to represent the men and women of the Australian Defence Forces in government”.

“It comes at a crucial strategic time for our country and our region,” he said. “I am very much looking forward to continuing the work of my predecessor Linda Reynolds, who has done an exceptional job in this portfolio.”

Senate crossbencher Rex Patrick, who has pursued the government over its handling of the submarine and frigates contracts, said he hoped Mr Dutton would “cast a fresh set of eyes” over the troubled programs.

“One of the problems with Minister Reynolds was that she was totally beholden to the Department. I don’t always agree with Minister Dutton, but he certainly is of strong mind and won’t be a simple pushover,” he said.