Do we like Richard Marles?
Our score: 7 out of 10. Strong votes on marriage equality and workers, offset by the census call and a staff dispute that ended in a confidential settlement.
The census is where he copped it. In August 2024 he said the government wanted to avoid “divisive debates in the community now”, so the census would mostly keep the old questions. Within days the PM said a sexuality question would be tested after all, and AAP FactCheck rated Albanese's claim that nothing had changed as false. It's a fumble on visibility rather than a sign of animus, but it's the sort of call our readers will remember.
The staff stoush is the other mark. In October 2024 his chief of staff alleged she was blocked from doing her job and told to look for other work after raising bullying concerns, though her lawyer said the alleged bullying was among staff and did not involve Marles. He said he was satisfied he'd upheld the ministerial code, and his spokesperson said many assertions were contested. In March 2025 the dispute ended in a confidential settlement, with the government saying no adverse findings were made against anyone.
As Defence Minister he's been under the pump lately. When US Navy Secretary John Phelan was fired in April, Marles called it a “matter for the United States” and said AUKUS was going ahead on schedule. In March The Nightly reported he did not directly answer questions about allegations from serving and former ADF members of abuse in interrogation training. Those allegations are not against Marles himself, and a government spokesperson said there was “no place for unacceptable behaviour in Defence or any workplace”.