Defence in disarray, says Labor

His boss on sick leave, Assistant Defence Minister still waiting for formal instructions about his responsibilities.

Assistant Defence Minister Andrew Hastie is yet to be issued issue with an official ministerial charter letter setting out his responsibilities. Picture: Marie Nirme

The impact of Linda Reynolds ­extended absence as Defence Minister is being compounded by a lack of any formal instructions for new Assistant Defence Minister Andrew Hastie.

Scott Morrison is yet to issue Mr Hastie with an official ministerial charter letter setting out his responsibilities, leaving him working from only an informal list of duties assigned by Senator Reynolds.

With Senator Reynolds off work for another month on the advice of her cardiologist, Foreign Minister Marise Payne will shoulder responsibility for key decisions in the portfolio as Acting Defence Minister, in addition to her own work. This includes finalising at least two major contracts on the troubled $90bn submarine program, and progressing Defence’s response to the Brereton war crimes inquiry. Submarine company Naval Group’s second work contract has been negotiated and is with the government for review, while an in-principle agreement for 60 per cent Aus­tralian industry content in the boats needs to be put into a contract and signed.

Sources said Senator Reynolds had assigned Mr Hastie responsibility for cybersecurity and the Australian Cyber Security Centre, IT systems, digital transformation, and military cadet programs. However, his lack of a formal charter letter is a potential source of confusion for the ­bureaucracy, which relies on the documents to guide its dealings with ministers.

Opposition defence spokesman Brendan O’Connor said the complex demands of the portfolio required the government “have all hands on deck”.

“Now we learn that through a mix of laziness and incompetence, Assistant Defence Minister Hastie hasn‘t been issued his official responsibilities from the Prime Minister three months after being given the promotion,” Mr O’Connor said.

“The defence portfolio is in disarray, with the Defence Minister to be absent through Senate estimates and upcoming sittings, and a junior minister unable to do his job because the most basic first order of business has not been done.”

The Prime Minister’s office declined to comment on Mr Hastie’s lack of an official brief, saying he knew what his responsibilities were. “All ministers in the Defence portfolio, including Assistant Minister Hastie, have been fully consulted on their areas of responsibility and on the matters where they will support the Minister,” a spokeswoman said.

Senator Payne said she could cope with the extra workload, but Labor leader Anthony Albanese suggested she had her hands full managing her own portfolio.

Labor has declared Senator Reynolds’ position “untenable”.