Member for Paterson, Meryl Swanson has been appointed to the role of Shadow Assistant Minister for Defence.
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Ms Swanson said she was "extremely honoured" to be appointed to the role by Labor leader Anthony Albanese at a special caucus meeting on Tuesday.
"Defence is an essential part of our nation's security and a vital part of my community, of which I am immensely proud," she said.
With the Williamtown RAAF base in the centre of her electorate (which spans from Neath to Nelson Bay), and as a committed advocate on defence issues, Ms Swanson says she will be able to hit the ground running.
"As a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, and Deputy Chair of both the Defence Sub-Committee and PFAS Sub-Committee, I have been afforded the opportunity to grow my understanding of the defence sector and build key relationships," she said.
Ms Swanson had the unique opportunity to spend a week at the Williamtown base in 2017 engaging first-hand with the men and women of the Australian Defence Force and their operations.
She has engaged with the base and defence industry leaders regularly since then, and has also visited Lockheed Martin at Fort Worth, Texas to tour the F35 production line.
"In supporting the Williamtown residents through the PFAS contamination I understand that Defence is inextricably linked to our community," she said.
"I look forward to continuing to work with the ADF on its engagement with the community."
Ms Swanson will join deputy opposition leader and shadow defence minister Richard Marles, shadow minister assisting for defence Pat Conroy, shadow minister for defence industry Matt Keogh and shadow minister for veterans' affairs and defence personnel Shane Neumann on Labor's defence team.
She replaces outgoing shadow assistant minister Mike Kelly, who has resigned from parliament due to health issues.