Cabinet appointment due to “performance” not gender, says Federal Durack MP Melissa Price
Federal Durack MP and Defence Industries Minister Melissa Price was quick to dismiss claims her Cabinet appointment was a stunt to get more women into the inner sanctum of Scott Morrison’s Government as it grapples with a cultural crisis.
Rather, Ms Price said the appointment showed the PM’s recognition of the portfolio’s importance.
“It is not my being a female, it is my performance in the portfolio and the fact I have driven significant change within the department with respect to defence procurement,” she told the Guardian last week.
“I have been Minister for Defence Industries for almost two years and the portfolio is incredibly important.
“The person driving that portfolio should be in the Cabinet.”
Ms Price, who was previously in Cabinet as environment minister, said her return meant it now had a record seven women members.
The Durack MP is also a member of the Cabinet Women’s Taskforce, along with the other women members, Mr Morrison, the Deputy Prime Minister, Treasurer and Finance Minister.
Ms Price said the first meeting last week considered the Respect @ Work recommendations put to the Government by Kate Jenkins which Cabinet supported in full.
“This report deals with wide-ranging issues with respect to sexual harassment,” she said.
“I think the whole nation has drawn a collective line in the sand.
“The task force has been established to focus on these incredibly important issues for Australia.”
Ms Price said her particular focus would be on regional and remote women.
“They have a special set of circumstances to deal with,” she said.
“It may be a lack of support, lack of safe house where they live in a small community, or it may be difficult for friends and family to believe they are victims of domestic violence.
“Our focus will be on the security of women at home, financial security, and also the safety of women on the street.”
Ms Price said she had achieved “substantial results” in defence procurement.
“The way that Australia gets opportunities, there is greater focus on our sovereign capabilities with respect to defence procurement,” she said.
“The Government has committed $270 billion over the next 10 years and we need to ensure small and medium-sized businesses will get a fair crack at that investment.
“Having me as the portfolio holder at that table I will be the strongest advocate for those businesses that I can possibly be.”
Ms Price said she was focussed on making sure regional Australian companies had their fair share of opportunities to supply defence forces.
She said she was keen to see a defence industry hub in the Mid West.
When asked about the much-awaited decision to locate full docking facilities for Collins Class submarine refits and future ship building in either South Australia or WA she said the Government had other priorities.
“COVID has been a major priority ... and that is the explanation as to why the Government had not made a decision,” Ms Price said.
“No decision needs to be taken during 2021, it is not imperative, we still have time.
“But in the meantime there are enormous opportunities for people to be involved in shipbuilding all over in Australia.
“We have 4000 people working in the industry at present and we estimate we will need 15,000 across Australia to fulfil our shipbuilding program.”
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