Australia Merges 3 Defence Agencies Into 1 to Speed up Projects, Control Costs

The move comes amid ongoing concern with Australia’s decades-long acquisition of major arms.

Australia's Minister of Defence Richard Marles (C) and Minister of Defence Industry Pat Conroy (R) announce the accelerated delivery of Australia's first High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) at the Australian International Airshow in Avalon in Victoria, Australia on March 24, 2025. William West/AFP via Getty Images

The Labor government has undertaken one of the biggest overhauls of Australia’s defence apparatus in a bid to rebuild public confidence and get spending under control.

The centrepiece of the move is the creation of the “Defence Delivery Agency” (DDA)—an independent body responsible for managing major military acquisitions and ensuring projects stay within schedule and budget.