Richard Maples

Richard Donald Marles (born 13 July 1967) is an Australian politician and lawyer serving as the 19th deputy prime minister of Australia and the minister for Defence since May 2022. He has been the deputy leader of the Labor Party since 2019, and has served as a member of Parliament (MP) for the Victorian division of Corio since 2007. He grew up in Geelong, Victoria, and is a lawyer by profession. He was assistant secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions from 2000 to 2007. He was elected to the House of Representatives at the 2007 federal election, after defeating incumbent Labor MP Gavan O'Connor for preselection in the seat of Corio. Marles was made a parliamentary secretary in 2009 and briefly served as Minister for Trade in 2013, having supported Kevin Rudd's return as prime minister. He was appointed to shadow cabinet after the ALP's defeat at the 2013 election and became a senior figure in the Labor Right faction. Marles was elected deputy leader to Anthony Albanese after the 2019 election, becoming deputy opposition leader. Following the ALP's victory at the 2022 election he was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister.