Marles, who has served as shadow defence minister since 2016, will now take on an expanded portfolio, serving as Labor's spokesman for science, national reconstruction, employment, skills and small business.

Following the announcement, Labor leader Anthony Albanese said O'Connor is well suited to the defence portfolio, given his policy experience.  

“Brendan O’Connor will be outstanding,” Albanese said.

“He has sat on the National Security Committee for a number of years. He has held home affairs and immigration portfolios.”

Member for Burt, Matt Keogh, who will continue to serve as the Labor opposition's shadow minister for defence industry, welcomed O'Connor to the defence portfolio. 

"I look forward to continuing to work with Brendan O’Connor and Deputy Leader Richard Marles in their new portfolios in my role as shadow minister for defence industry and assisting for small and family business, as we work to demonstrate why Australians should elect an Albanese Labor government at the next election," he said.

Charbel Kadib

News Editor – Defence and Security, Momentum Media

Prior to joining the defence and aerospace team in 2020, Charbel was news editor of The Adviser and Mortgage Business, where he covered developments in the banking and financial services sector for three years. Charbel has a keen interest in geopolitics and international relations, graduating from the University of Notre Dame with a double major in politics and journalism. Charbel has also completed internships with The Australian Department of Communications and the Arts and public relations agency Fifty Acres.