More than 100 days after the election the three Turnbull Government frontbenchers with responsibility for the Defence Department are yet to publicly confirm their precise ministerial powers — a stalemate which is causing angst among departmental officials and military companies.

The re-elected Turnbull administration now has three ministers who share Defence responsibilities: Defence Minister Marise Payne, Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne and Defence Personnel Minister Dan Tehan, who is also the Veterans' Affairs Minister.

Usually, shortly after ministers are sworn in they are sent a letter by the Prime Minister, formally stating their precise responsibilities, which are then made publicly available.

As of Monday evening, the Defence Department website also blandly lists the portfolio responsibilities of the three ministers as still "to be advised".

Some within the Defence establishment blame a "turf war" between the Defence Minister and Defence Industry Minister over control of various areas for the ongoing stalemate.

A senior Defence Department official has told the ABC the ongoing mystery over which minister is responsible for certain duties is causing confusion and unnecessary duplication of bureaucratic work.

"It's a crazy situation — we prepare ministerial briefs but we're not sure which minister to send them to," the senior official told the ABC on the condition of anonymity.

"In some cases crucial decisions are unnecessarily delayed because there's confusion over which minister needs to sign off on simple requests."

Similarly, defence companies who are regularly in contact with the Australian Defence Force and Government have privately expressed frustration.

A Government spokesman has told the ABC the charter letters outlining ministerial responsibilities have now been finalised and portfolio duties will be publicly known "shortly".