Statement from Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the national employer association, Australian Industry Group
Australian Industry Group has welcomed the appointment of Meghan Quinn PSM as the new Defence Department Secretary.
Ms Quinn assumes her role at a critical time for our defence capabilities and industry at a time of increasing global and regional uncertainty and volatility and at a time when national security and economic security are becoming increasingly entwined.
Australia is going through a significant transformation in building the right defence capabilities to suit these uncertain times, with a new focus required on enabling the development of local defence industry and capability.
Our regional defence relationships are becoming more important than ever, including the integration of Australian industry and capability into global supply chains.
An immediate focus will be on the delivery of our AUKUS arrangements at a time of growing security and economic pressures. Coupled with that, the conflicts in the Middle East and Russia/Ukraine have demonstrated that the conduct of warfare has irrevocably changed, increasing pressure on our defence capabilities.
The years ahead will be very different to the expectations we have held since the turn of the century.
Ms Quinn's experience in the banking and mining sectors will be very useful in helping navigate these changes. Australian Industry Group more broadly and our Defence Council members look forward to working with her in the time ahead to boost Australia's defence capabilities.
We also congratulate Greg Moriarty for his distinguished service as the Defence Department secretary and look forward to continuing to work with him as Australia's incoming Ambassador to the United States, where our national security arrangements will be at the fore.
