The Defence portfolio consists of a number of military and corporate organisations that together are responsible for supporting the defence of Australia and its national interests.
The two most significant bodies are the:
- Australian Defence Force
- Department of Defence.
Australian Defence Force
Commanded by the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF) is the Australian Defence Force (ADF) incorporates the following units:
- Australian Defence Force Headquarters
- Joint Capabilities Group
- Joint Operations Command
As well as the services:
Department of Defence
Reporting to the Secretary of Defence are the following groups:
- Associate Secretary Organisation
- Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group
- Defence Intelligence Group
- Defence Science and Technology Group
- Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance Group
- Naval Shipbuilding and Sustainment Group
- Strategy, Policy and Industry Group
Other entities
Defence also contains a number of smaller entities, including:
- The Inspector General of the ADF, an independent statutory office created by the Defence Act 1903, which resides administratively within Defence.
- The Australian Signals Directorate, a statutory agency created by the Intelligence Services Act 2001, which reports directly to the Minister for Defence.
- The Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal is an independent statutory office created by the Defence Act 1903, which resides administratively within Defence.
- A number of statutory offices created by the Defence Force Discipline Act 1982 which are independent but reside administratively within Defence. These include the Judge Advocate General, the Chief Judge Advocate, the Director of Military Prosecutions and the Registrar of Military Justice.
- Various trusts and companies: