Department of Defence (Australia)

The Department of Defence is the department of the Australian Government responsible for national defence policy, supporting the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and ensuring the overall defence of Australia and her national interests. Along with the ADF and other agencies, it forms part of the Australian Defence Organisation (ADO). The Department is accountable to the Parliament of Australia, on behalf of the Australian people, for its spending of public funds and implementation of government policy. Defence staff are primarily based out of the Russell Offices and Campbell Park Offices in Canberra, in the Australian Capital Territory.

The executive head of the department, who leads it on a day-to-day basis, independent of a change in government, is the Secretary of the Department of Defence (SECDEF), currently . SECDEF reports to the Minister for Defence, currently Richard Marles.