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Minister for defence

Minister for defence. STEPHEN SMITH. Where he was born.

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Minister for defence

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  1. Minister for defence STEPHEN SMITH

  2. Where he was born • Smith was born in Narrogin, Western Australia, and was educated at the University of Western Australia and the University of London, where he earned a master's degree in law. He was a solicitor, lecturer and tutor before entering politics. He was principle private secretary to the Western Australian Attorney-General, Joe Berenson 1983–87 and State Secretary of the Western Australian Labour Party 1987–90[1] From 1990 to 1993 he was an adviser to Paul Keating, first as Treasurer, then as Prime Minister. He was instrumental in securing caucus support for Keating to defeat Bob Hawke for the Labour Party leadership in 1990 and thereby become Prime Minister

  3. 7 November 2012 Thank you General [David] Hurley for that introduction. Thank you also to Admiral [Samuel] Locklear, Commander United States (US) Pacific Command, for co-hosting this Conference.  Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.  I am very pleased to be here this evening at the Annual Asia-Pacific Chiefs of Defence Force Conference, a key forum as we increasingly recognise the growing strategic importance of our region for global security.  I warmly welcome the Chiefs of Defence Force participating in this Conference, along with the senior military representatives from a total of 26 participating countries.  The Conference theme “Two Oceans, one region: Strengthening Security in the Asia Pacific and Indian Ocean” is deeply relevant as strategic weight shifts to our region, to our part of the world.  Your deliberations are of importance to regional security and therefore of global significance.

  4. 31 October 2012 The Government is committed to providing regular reports and updates on Afghanistan. This year, I have reported to the Parliament on four prior occasions. In February, I provided an update to Parliament on progress in Afghanistan. In May, I reported to Parliament twice, once on Australia’s detainee management arrangements and, on my return from Chicago, on the outcomes of the NATO/International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Leaders’ Summit, which I attended with the Prime Minister. In August, I reported to Parliament on key developments in Afghanistan. This update follows my visit to TarinKot on 8 October and my attendance at the NATO / International Security Assistance Force Defence Ministers Meeting in Brussels, 9-10 October

  5. Stephen Smith was sworn in as Minister for Defence on 14 September 2010. Prior to that Mr Smith was Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade from 28 June 2010 and Minister for Foreign Affairs from 3 December 2007. • Mr Smith is a Barrister and Solicitor by profession. He completed his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws at the University of Western Australia. Mr Smith practised as a Barrister and Solicitor in Perth, then completed a Master of Laws at London University, and subsequently lectured and tutored in Law in London6 December 2010 Iam not happy

  6. Stephen Smith MPMinister for Defence I extend my best wishes and season’s greetings to you and your families. Since becoming Defence Minister in September, I have had the pleasure of meeting a range of Defence personnel, both here and overseas. Two weeks into my term as Defence Minister, I visited Australian troops serving in Afghanistan. This helped me gain a better understanding of the conditions that our personnel are facing on the ground. We have great pride in the men and women who are working hard every day to help bring about the peace and stability of a country that needs the international community’s assistance

  7. Australian Defence Force personnel are also playing a significant role in peacekeeping missions in our region and further afield. We have ADF members serving in East Timor, the Solomon Islands and Sudan. Over the past year, the ADF has also delivered life saving humanitarian and emergency assistance to the people of Haiti, Fiji and Pakistan, building on a proud tradition of humanitarian response to disasters in our region and beyond. As I travel around bases and sites in Australia, I am impressed by the commitment, focus and professionalism of the men and women who work in Defence, both military and civilian. In a speech to the House of Representatives on 25 November I placed on record my thanks to the men and women of Defence including the Chief of the Defence Force Angus Houston and the Secretary of the Department Ian Watt for the invaluable work you do in Australia’s national security interests.

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