Marise Payne was appointed Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs on 28 August 2018.
A Senator for NSW since 1997, she has more than two decades’ parliamentary experience including 12 years’ membership of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade. She is a former Minister for Human Services, and has held several shadow ministries.
The Senator was appointed Minister for Defence in September 2015. In this time, she delivered the 2016 Defence White Paper, the Integrated Investment Plan, and Defence Industry Policy Statement. She oversaw a major renewal of the Australian Defence Force’s capabilities and led the organisation’s increased international engagement program with allies and partners.
She has been a member of the Liberal Party since 1982, serving on the NSW State Executive for 10 years, and was the Young Liberals’ first female President.
The Minister holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of NSW.
She and her partner, NSW Minister for Western Sydney, WestConnex and Sport, Stuart Ayres, live in western Sydney.