Johnston named on defence advisory board

Former minister David Johnston, who said he wouldn't trust the government's shipbuilding firm to build a canoe, has been appointed to a defence advisory group.

Former defence minister David Johnston has been appointed to a defence advisory group. (AAP)

He's the man who once said the federal government's shipbuilding company couldn't build a canoe.

Now former defence minister David Johnston, who lost his job in a Tony Abbott reshuffle following his 2014 gaffe, has been appointed to the board of the Centre for Defence Industry Capability.

Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne made the announcement on Monday, saying the group would start its work later this year.