**TRUE** - Kevin Andrews was appointed as Minister for Defence on December 23, 2014, and he had previously made a remark stating he had "no interest in defence issues" [1][2].
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, before being sworn in as Australia's 52nd Defence Minister, Andrews was forced to reassure the military community of his commitment after it emerged he had once declared he had "no interest in defence issues" [1].
這番言論 zhè fān yán lùn 是 shì 在 zài Howard Howard 執政時期 zhí zhèng shí qī , , Andrews Andrews 與 yǔ 當時 dāng shí 澳洲 ào zhōu 國防 guó fáng 協會 xié huì ( ( ADA ADA ) ) 執行 zhí xíng 董事 dǒng shì Mike Mike O O ' ' Connor Connor 的 de 私人 sī rén 對話 duì huà 中 zhōng 所 suǒ 說 shuō [ [ 1 1 ] ] 。 。
The remark was made in a private conversation during the Howard era to Mike O'Connor, then Executive Director of the Australian Defence Association (ADA) [1].
Neil James, Executive Director of the ADA, confirmed the association keeps a list of parliamentarians who make such remarks, stating: "The ADA has a very long corporate memory.
Andrews Andrews 本人 běn rén 表示 biǎo shì 他 tā 不 bù 記得 jì dé 曾 céng 說過 shuō guò 這番 zhè fān 話 huà , , 但 dàn 聯 lián 繫 xì 了 le 澳洲 ào zhōu 國防 guó fáng 協會 xié huì 以 yǐ 確保 què bǎo 他們 tā men 相信 xiāng xìn 他 tā 對 duì 國防 guó fáng 職位 zhí wèi 的 de 承諾 chéng nuò [ [ 1 1 ] ] 。 。
In November 2014, Johnston had stated he would not trust the government's shipbuilder ASC (Australian Submarine Corporation) to "build a canoe" - comments that sparked calls for his resignation [3][4][5].
Abbott stated Andrews would be a "steady pair of hands" and "very safe pair of hands" in the critical portfolio [1][6].
**When was the "no interest" comment made?**
The remark was made during the Howard era (1996-2007), approximately 7-17 years before the 2014 appointment.
SMH is generally considered credible, though like all media, has editorial perspectives.
文章 wén zhāng 引用 yǐn yòng 了 le : :
This particular article was written by Heath Aston, a political correspondent [1].
- - 澳洲 ào zhōu 國防 guó fáng 協會 xié huì Neil Neil James James 的 de 直接 zhí jiē 引述 yǐn shù ( ( 國防產業 guó fáng chǎn yè 倡導 chàng dǎo 組織 zǔ zhī ) )
The article relies on:
- Direct quotes from Neil James of the Australian Defence Association (a defence industry advocacy group)
- Confirmation from Kevin Andrews himself that he contacted the ADA to reassure them
- Statements from Prime Minister Tony Abbott about the appointment
The source appears factual and well-sourced, though the framing emphasizes the awkwardness of the appointment rather than providing extensive context about why the change was made.
- - Kevin Kevin Andrews Andrews 本人 běn rén 的 de 證實 zhèng shí , , 他 tā 曾 céng 聯 lián 繫 xì 澳洲 ào zhōu 國防 guó fáng 協會 xié huì 以 yǐ 確保 què bǎo 他們 tā men 相信 xiāng xìn 他 tā 的 de 承諾 chéng nuò - - 總理 zǒng lǐ Tony Tony Abbott Abbott 關於 guān yú 這項 zhè xiàng 任命 rèn mìng 的 de 聲明 shēng míng 來源 lái yuán 顯得事 xiǎn dé shì 實性 shí xìng 強且 qiáng qiě 資料 zī liào 充分 chōng fèn , , 雖然 suī rán 報導 bào dǎo 角度 jiǎo dù 強調 qiáng diào 這項 zhè xiàng 任命 rèn mìng 的 de 尷尬 gān gà 性 xìng , , 而 ér 非 fēi 提供 tí gōng 關於為 guān yú wèi 何進 hé jìn 行人 xíng rén 事變動 shì biàn dòng 的 de 廣泛 guǎng fàn 背景 bèi jǐng 。 。
**Did Labor appoint ministers without defence backgrounds?**
Search conducted: "Stephen Smith defence minister Labor experience background"
Finding: Labor's Stephen Smith served as Minister for Defence from 2010 to 2013 under the Rudd and Gillard governments [7][8].
* * * *
Prior to Defence, Smith served as Minister for Foreign Affairs (2007-2010) and Minister for Trade (2010) [7][9].
搜尋內容 sōu xún nèi róng : : 「 「 Stephen Stephen Smith Smith 國 guó 防部 fáng bù 長 zhǎng Labor Labor 經驗 jīng yàn 背景 bèi jǐng 」 」
Like Andrews, Smith did not have a military background before taking the Defence portfolio.
Smith's appointment was not controversial in the same way because he had established credentials in foreign affairs.
**Historical pattern:**
The SMH article notes that previous defence ministers from both parties, including Peter Reith, Robert Hill, Stephen Smith, and John Faulkner, all "occupied defence as their ministerial swansong" [1].
The Australian Defence Association's Neil James expressed concern that Defence was "getting very, very tired of receiving ministers who are really in their last term or two in Parliament" [1].
This suggests that appointing ministers without deep defence expertise to the portfolio has been common practice across governments of both persuasions, though the Association would prefer "younger and more able ministers with a future ahead of them" [1].
**The full story:**
While the claim is factually accurate that Kevin Andrews once said he had "no interest in defence issues" and was subsequently appointed Defence Minister, the framing omits several important elements:
1. **The remark was old and private**: The comment was made during the Howard era (1996-2007), years before the appointment.
雖然 suī rán Kevin Kevin Andrews Andrews 確實 què shí 曾 céng 說過 shuō guò 「 「 對國 duì guó 防議題 fáng yì tí 沒有 méi yǒu 興趣 xìng qù 」 」 並隨後被 bìng suí hòu bèi 任命 rèn mìng 為國 wèi guó 防部 fáng bù 長 zhǎng 的 de 事 shì 實準 shí zhǔn 確無誤 què wú wù , , 但 dàn 呈現 chéng xiàn 方式 fāng shì 遺漏 yí lòu 了 le 幾個 jǐ gè 重要 zhòng yào 元素 yuán sù : :
Andrews stated he did not recall making it [1].
2. **Context of the appointment**: Andrews was appointed to replace David Johnston, who had just made damaging comments about Australian shipbuilders that undermined confidence in the defence industry [3][4][5].
The reshuffle was described by political commentators as "the reshuffle the PM had to have" [1].
3. **Andrews' experience**: While he may have lacked defence-specific interest historically, Andrews was "one of the government's most experienced ministers" having served as Minister for Social Services (2013-2014) and in various shadow ministry roles before that [1][10].
4. **Cross-party pattern**: Both Labor and Coalition governments have appointed ministers to Defence without prior defence-specific expertise.
Stephen Smith (Labor) moved from Foreign Affairs to Defence; Peter Reith and Robert Hill (Coalition) also served as Defence ministers late in their careers [1].
5. **Outcome**: Andrews served as Defence Minister from December 2014 to September 2015, when he was replaced by Marise Payne in the Turnbull government [10].
During his tenure, he dealt with submarine acquisition decisions and the first review of Defence structure since the 1950s [1].
**Key context:** This appointment pattern is **not unique to the Coalition**.
The "no interest" remark made this appointment particularly awkward, but the underlying practice of appointing senior ministers without defence backgrounds to the portfolio has been consistent across governments.
Kevin Kevin Andrews Andrews 於 yú 2014 2014 年 nián 12 12 月 yuè 23 23 日 rì 被 bèi 任命 rèn mìng 為國 wèi guó 防部 fáng bù 長 zhǎng , , 而 ér 他 tā 確實 què shí 曾 céng 在 zài Howard Howard 執政時期 zhí zhèng shí qī 發表過 fā biǎo guò 表示 biǎo shì 「 「 對國 duì guó 防議題 fáng yì tí 沒有 méi yǒu 興趣 xìng qù 」 」 的 de 言論 yán lùn 。 。
Kevin Andrews was appointed Minister for Defence on December 23, 2014, and he had previously made a remark stating he had "no interest in defence issues" during the Howard era.
The Australian Defence Association documented this private comment, and Andrews himself acknowledged contacting them to reassure them of his commitment [1].
However, the claim presents this as a standalone criticism without acknowledging:
- The comment was made years earlier in a private conversation
- The appointment occurred in the context of replacing a Defence Minister (David Johnston) who had made damaging public remarks about Australian shipbuilders
- Both Labor and Coalition governments have historically appointed ministers without specific defence backgrounds to this portfolio
Kevin Kevin Andrews Andrews 於 yú 2014 2014 年 nián 12 12 月 yuè 23 23 日 rì 被 bèi 任命 rèn mìng 為國 wèi guó 防部 fáng bù 長 zhǎng , , 而 ér 他 tā 確實 què shí 曾 céng 在 zài Howard Howard 執政時期 zhí zhèng shí qī 發表過 fā biǎo guò 表示 biǎo shì 「 「 對國 duì guó 防議題 fáng yì tí 沒有 méi yǒu 興趣 xìng qù 」 」 的 de 言論 yán lùn 。 。
Kevin Andrews was appointed Minister for Defence on December 23, 2014, and he had previously made a remark stating he had "no interest in defence issues" during the Howard era.
The Australian Defence Association documented this private comment, and Andrews himself acknowledged contacting them to reassure them of his commitment [1].
However, the claim presents this as a standalone criticism without acknowledging:
- The comment was made years earlier in a private conversation
- The appointment occurred in the context of replacing a Defence Minister (David Johnston) who had made damaging public remarks about Australian shipbuilders
- Both Labor and Coalition governments have historically appointed ministers without specific defence backgrounds to this portfolio