John Faulkner named new Australian Defence Minister

Senator Faulkner, 55, a veteran of more than a decade of Senate defence estimates hearings, said he was “delighted” to be chosen to lead 90,000 civilian and uniformed personnel but admitted he was “right at the bottom of a steep learning curve”.

“I'll have very high expectations of the department of defence as its new minister,” said Senator Faulkner, dubbed “Field Marshal Faulkner” by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

“I'll also have absolute confidence those expectations will be met."

A leading member of Labor's socialist left faction, Senator Faulkner has served at various times as shadow minister for social security, public administration and home affairs.

In the Keating Labor Government he served as minister of veterans affairs and minister for defence science and personnel.

Mr Rudd described Senator Faulkner as a man of “unquestionable integrity and strength of character”.