Richard Marles is an Australian politician who has been the deputy leader of the Labor Party since 2019. He became the 19th deputy prime minister of Australia in May 2022 under the Albanese government.
Mr Marles had previously served as deputy leader of the opposition, and as a Member of the Australian Parliament for Corio in Victoria since the 2007 election. He was a Parliamentary Secretary from 2009 to 2013, Minister for Trade in the second Rudd Government from June to September 2013, and a member of the Shadow Cabinet from Labor's defeat at the 2013 election to their victory at the 2022 election. In June 2022, Mr Marles was sworn in as Minister for Defence under the Albanese government.
Mr Marles started his career as a solicitor with Melbourne industrial law firm Slater and Gordon. In 1994, he became legal officer for the Transport Workers Union and was elected Assistant Secretary four years later. From 2000 to 2007, he joined Australia's peak national union body, the Australian Council of Trade Unions, as assistant secretary.
Mr Marles holds a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Laws with Honours.
