The Hon. Pat Conroy MP, Minister for Defence Industry will address the National Press Club on “Progressive Patriotism: A Labor approach to defence capability, defence industry and reform”.

Australia’s strategic circumstances demand we invest in our sovereign defence industrial base and self-reliance to ensure defence has the capabilities, skills and workforce it needs to keep Australians safe. Minister Conroy will argue that investing in defence forms an integral part of the Labor approach to progressive patriotism. To deliver this, the Albanese Government is implementing the largest increase to defence investment in Australia’s peacetime history and undertaking the biggest reforms to defence in more than 50 years.

BIO

Pat grew up on the Central Coast of New South Wales and is proud to now represent the people of that same region, as well as Lake Macquarie, as the Member for Shortland. He graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Economics. He is the father of two and husband to a nurse. Pat was first elected to the federal parliament in 2013. He is the longest serving Minister for Defence Industry since the 1950s and also serves as Minister for Pacific Island Affairs, and is a member of Cabinet. He loves his footy and is the unofficial minister for rugby league.