Minister for Foreign Affairs (Australia)

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Minister for Foreign Affairs
Coat of Arms of Australia.svg
Commonwealth Coat of Arms
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Flag of Australia
Penny Wong DFAT official (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Penny Wong
since 23 May 2022 (2022-05-23)
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Style The Honourable
Appointer Governor-General
on the advice of the prime minister
Inaugural holder Edmund Barton (as Minister for External Affairs)
Formation1 January 1901 (1901-01-01)
Website www.foreignminister.gov.au

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, also known as the Foreign Minister, is the minister of state of the Commonwealth of Australia charged with overseeing the creation and implementation of international diplomacy, relations and foreign affairs policy, as the head of the foreign affairs section of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The current Foreign Minister is Senator Penny Wong, who was appointed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in May 2022 following the 2022 federal election.

Contents

Wong is the first female Foreign Minister from the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and the third female foreign minister in a row, following Julie Bishop and Marise Payne. The position is one of two cabinet-level portfolio ministers under the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the other being the Minister for Trade and Tourism. The Foreign Minister is vested with a few subordinate positions, including the Minister for International Development, currently held by Anne Aly, Minister for Pacific Island Affairs, currently held by Pat Conroy, and the Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, currently held by Matt Thistlethwaite.

Scope

R. G. Casey House, the headquarters of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Head office of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Canberra, Australia.jpg
R. G. Casey House, the headquarters of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The minister is usually one of the most senior members of Cabinet – the position is equivalent to that of Foreign Secretary in Britain or Secretary of State in the United States – as shown by the fact that eleven Prime Ministers of Australia have also worked as the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The minister is seen as one of the people most responsible for formulating Australia's foreign policy, as they along with other relevant ministers advise the Prime Minister in developing and implementing foreign policy, and also acts as the government's main spokesperson on international affairs issues. In recent times, the minister also undertakes numerous international trips to meet with foreign representatives and Heads of State or Government.

List of ministers for foreign affairs

The portfolio has existed continuously since 1901, except for the period 14 November 1916 to 21 December 1921. Prior to 6 November 1970, the office was known as the Minister for External Affairs. Between 24 July 1987 and 24 March 1993 it was known as the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. Starting with the Keating government, the Trade portfolio has been administered separately by the Minister for Trade.

The following individuals have been appointed as Minister for Foreign Affairs, or any of its precedent titles: [1]

OrderMinisterPartyPrime MinisterTitleTerm startTerm endTerm in office
1 Edmund Barton 1 2   Protectionist BartonMinister for External Affairs1 January 190124 September 19032 years, 266 days
2 Alfred Deakin 1 Deakin24 September 190327 April 1904216 days
3 Billy Hughes Labor Watson 27 April 190417 August 1904112 days
4 George Reid 1 Free Trade Reid18 August 19045 July 1905321 days
n/aAlfred Deakin 1 ProtectionistDeakin5 July 190513 November 19083 years, 131 days
5 Lee Batchelor Labor Fisher 13 November 19082 June 1909201 days
6 Littleton Groom Liberal Deakin2 June 190929 April 1910331 days
n/aLee BatchelorLaborFisher29 April 19108 October 19111 year, 162 days
7 Josiah Thomas 14 October 191124 June 19131 year, 253 days
8 Paddy Glynn Liberal Cook 24 June 191317 September 19141 year, 85 days
9 John Arthur LaborFisher17 September 19149 December 191483 days
10 Hugh Mahon 9 December 191427 October 1915322 days
Hughes27 October 191514 November 19161 year, 18 days
n/aBilly Hughes 1 Nationalist HughesMinister for External Affairs21 December 19219 February 19231 year, 50 days
11 Stanley Bruce 1 Bruce9 February 192322 October 19296 years, 255 days
12 James Scullin 1 LaborScullin22 October 19296 January 19322 years, 76 days
13 John Latham United Australia Lyons 6 January 193212 October 19342 years, 279 days
14Sir George Pearce 12 October 193429 November 19373 years, 48 days
n/aBilly Hughes29 November 19377 April 19391 year, 129 days
Page 7 April 193926 April 193919 days
15Sir Henry Somer Gullett Menzies 26 April 193914 March 1940323 days
16 John McEwen Country 14 March 194028 October 1940228 days
17 Frederick Stewart United Australia28 October 194029 August 1941305 days
Fadden 29 August 19417 October 194139 days
18 H. V. Evatt Labor Curtin 7 October 19416 July 19458 years, 73 days
Forde 6 July 194513 July 1945
Chifley 13 July 194519 December 1949
19 Percy Spender Liberal Menzies19 December 194926 April 19511 year, 128 days
20 Richard Casey 27 April 19514 February 19608 years, 283 days
21 Robert Menzies 1 4 February 196022 December 19611 year, 321 days
22Sir Garfield Barwick 22 December 196124 April 19642 years, 124 days
23 Paul Hasluck 24 April 196426 January 19664 years, 293 days
Holt 26 January 196619 December 1967
McEwen 19 December 196710 January 1968
Gorton 10 January 196811 February 1969
24 Gordon Freeth 11 February 196912 November 1969274 days
25 William McMahon 12 November 19696 November 19701 year, 130 days
Minister for Foreign Affairs6 November 197010 March 1971
McMahon 10 March 197122 March 1971
26 Leslie Bury 22 March 19712 August 1971133 days
27 Nigel Bowen 2 August 19715 December 19721 year, 125 days
28 Gough Whitlam 1 LaborWhitlam5 December 19726 November 1973336 days
29 Don Willesee 6 November 197311 November 19752 years, 5 days
30 Andrew Peacock Liberal Fraser 12 November 19753 November 19804 years, 358 days
31 Tony Street 3 November 198011 March 19832 years, 128 days
32 Bill Hayden Labor Hawke 11 March 198324 July 19875 years, 159 days
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade24 July 198717 August 1988
33 Gareth Evans 2 September 198820 December 19917 years, 191 days
Keating 20 December 199124 March 1993
Minister for Foreign Affairs24 March 199311 March 1996
34 Alexander Downer Liberal Howard 11 March 19963 December 200711 years, 267 days
35 Stephen Smith Labor Rudd 3 December 200724 June 20102 years, 285 days
Gillard 24 June 201014 September 2010
36 Kevin Rudd 14 September 201022 February 20121 year, 161 days
37 Bob Carr 13 March 201227 June 20131 year, 189 days
Rudd27 June 201318 September 2013
38 Julie Bishop Liberal Abbott 18 September 201315 September 20154 years, 344 days
Turnbull 15 September 201524 August 2018
Morrison 24 August 201828 August 2018
39 Marise Payne 28 August 201823 May 20223 years, 268 days
40 Penny Wong Labor Albanese 23 May 2022Incumbent3 years, 231 days

Notes

1 Also served as Prime Minister for some or all of their term.
2 Barton was knighted in 1902, while serving as Minister.

List of ministers for international development

This section is an excerpt from Minister for International Development § List of ministers for international development.[ edit ]

The following individuals have been appointed as Minister for International Development, or any precedent title: [2]

OrderMinisterPartyMinistryMinisterial titleTerm startTerm endTerm in office
1 Neal Blewett Labor 4th Hawke Minister for Trade and Overseas Development1 February 1991 (1991-02-01)20 December 1991 (1991-12-20)329 days
1st Keating 20 December 1991 (1991-12-20)27 December 1991 (1991-12-27)
2 John Kerin 27 December 1991 (1991-12-27)24 March 1993 (1993-03-24)1 year, 87 days
3 Gordon Bilney Labor 2nd Keating Minister for Development Cooperation and Pacific Island Affairs 24 March 1993 (1993-03-24)11 March 1996 (1996-03-11)2 years, 353 days
4 Melissa Parke Labor 2nd Rudd Minister for International Development1 July 2013 (2013-07-01)18 September 2013 (2013-09-18)79 days
5 Steven Ciobo LNP 1st Turnbull Minister for International Development and the Pacific21 September 2015 (2015-09-21)18 February 2016 (2016-02-18)150 days
6 Concetta Fierravanti-Wells Liberal 18 February 2016 (2016-02-18)19 July 2016 (2016-07-19)2 years, 185 days
2nd Turnbull 19 July 2016 (2016-07-19)22 August 2018 (2018-08-22)
7 Alex Hawke Liberal 2nd Morrison Minister for International Development and the Pacific29 May 2019 (2019-05-29)22 December 2020 (2020-12-22)1 year, 207 days
8 Zed Seselja 22 December 2020 (2020-12-22)23 May 2022 (2022-05-23)1 year, 152 days
9 Pat Conroy Labor 1st Albanese 1 June 2022 (2022-06-01)13 May 2025 (2025-05-13)2 years, 346 days
10 Anne Aly 2nd Albanese Minister for International Development13 May 2025 (2025-05-13)Incumbent240 days

List of ministers for Pacific Island Affairs

This section is an excerpt from Minister for Pacific Island Affairs § List of ministers for Pacific Island affairs.[ edit ]

In 2025, in the second Albanese ministry, the portfolio of Minister for International Development and the Pacific was split into two: Minister for International Development, held by Anne Aly, and Minister for Pacific Island Affairs, held by Pat Conroy. [3]

The following individuals have been appointed as Minister for Pacific Island Affairs, or any precedent title: [4]

OrderMinisterPartyMinistryMinisterial titleTerm startTerm endTerm in office
1 Bill Morrison   Labor Whitlam Minister assisting the Minister for Foreign Affairs in matters relating to Papua New Guinea30 November 19736 June 19751 year, 346 days
Minister assisting the Minister for Foreign Affairs in matters relating to the Islands of the Pacific6 June 197511 November 1975
2 Gordon Bilney Labor 2nd Keating Minister for Development Cooperation and Pacific Island Affairs24 March 1993 (1993-03-24)11 March 1996 (1996-03-11)2 years, 353 days
3 Steven Ciobo LNP 1st Turnbull Minister for International Development and the Pacific21 September 2015 (2015-09-21)18 February 2016 (2016-02-18)150 days
4 Concetta Fierravanti-Wells Liberal 18 February 2016 (2016-02-18)19 July 2016 (2016-07-19)2 years, 185 days
2nd Turnbull 19 July 2016 (2016-07-19)22 August 2018 (2018-08-22)
5 Alex Hawke Liberal 2nd Morrison Minister for International Development and the Pacific29 May 2019 (2019-05-29)22 December 2020 (2020-12-22)1 year, 207 days
6 Zed Seselja 22 December 2020 (2020-12-22)23 May 2022 (2022-05-23)1 year, 152 days
7 Pat Conroy Labor 1st Albanese 1 June 2022 (2022-06-01)13 May 2025 (2025-05-13)3 years, 221 days
2nd Albanese Minister for Pacific Island Affairs13 May 2025 (2025-05-13)Incumbent

Former ministerial titles

List of ministers for Information

The following individuals have been appointed as Minister for information or any of its precedent titles:

#NamePartyPrime MinisterStartEnd
1 Henry Gullett   United Australia Menzies 12 September 193914 March 1940
2 Robert Menzies   United Australia 14 March 194013 December 1940
3 Harry Foll   United Australia 13 December 19407 October 1941
Fadden
4 Bill Ashley   Labor Curtin 7 October 194121 September 1943
5 Arthur Calwell   Labor 21 September 19435 July 1945
Forde 5 July 194519 December 1949
Chifley
6 Howard Beale   Liberal Menzies 19 December 194916 March 1950

List of ministers assisting the minister for foreign affairs

The following individuals have been appointed as Minister assisting the Minister for Foreign Affairs or any of its precedent titles:

OrderMinisterPartyPrime MinisterMinisterial titleTerm startTerm endTerm in office
1 John Gorton   Liberal Menzies Minister Assisting the Minister for External Affairs23 March 196018 December 19633 years, 270 days
2 Don Willesee   Labor Whitlam Minister assisting the Minister for Foreign Affairs19 December 19726 November 1973322 days
3 Bill Morrison Minister assisting the Minister for Foreign Affairs in matters relating to Papua New Guinea30 November 19736 June 19751 year, 346 days
Minister assisting the Minister for Foreign Affairs in matters relating to the Islands of the Pacific6 June 197511 November 1975
4 Gareth Evans   Labor Hawke Minister assisting the Minister for Foreign Affairs13 December 198424 July 19872 years, 223 days

Parliamentary secretaries and assistant ministers

Foreign affairs

The following individuals have been appointed as parliamentary secretaries and assistant ministers for Foreign Affairs or any of its precedent titles:

OrderMinisterPartyPrime MinisterMinisterial titleTerm startTerm endTerm in office
1 Stephen Martin   Labor Keating Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade27 December 199124 March 19931 year, 87 days
2 Andrew Thomson   Liberal Howard Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs11 March 19969 October 19971 year, 212 days
3 Kathy Sullivan 9 October 199716 February 20002 years, 130 days
4 Kay Patterson 16 February 200026 November 20011 year, 283 days
5 Chris Gallus 26 November 200118 July 20042 years, 235 days
6 Bruce Billson 18 July 200426 October 20041 year, 193 days
Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Trade26 October 20046 July 2005
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs6 July 200527 January 2006
7 Teresa Gambaro 27 January 200630 January 20071 year, 3 days
8 Greg Hunt 30 January 20073 December 2007307 days
9 Richard Marles   Labor Gillard Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs5 March 201222 March 2013362 days
10 Brett Mason   Liberal Abbott Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs18 September 201323 December 20141 year, 96 days
11 Steven Ciobo 23 December 201421 September 2015272 days
12 Tim Watts   Labor Albanese Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs1 June 202213 May 20252 years, 346 days
13 Matt Thistlethwaite Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade13 May 2025Incumbent240 days

Pacific island affairs

This section is an excerpt from Minister for Pacific Island Affairs § List of assistant ministers.[ edit ]

The following individuals have been appointed as parliamentary secretaries and assistant ministers for Pacific Island affairs or any of its precedent titles: [4]

OrderMinisterPartyMinistryMinisterial titleTerm startTerm endTerm in office
1 Bill Morrison Labor 2nd Whitlam Minister Assisting the Minister for Foreign Affairs in matters relating to Papua New Guinea30 November 1973 (1973-11-30)12 June 1974 (1974-06-12)1 year, 188 days
3rd Whitlam 12 June 1974 (1974-06-12)6 June 1975 (1975-06-06)
Minister Assisting the Minister for Foreign Affairs in matters relating to the Islands of the Pacific6 June 1975 (1975-06-06)11 November 1975 (1975-11-11)
2 Duncan Kerr Labor 1st Rudd Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs3 December 2007 (2007-12-03)14 December 2009 (2009-12-14)2 years, 11 days
3 Richard Marles Labor 2nd Gillard Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs14 September 2010 (2010-09-14)22 March 2013 (2013-03-22)2 years, 189 days
4 Matt Thistlethwaite 22 March 2013 (2013-03-22)27 June 2013 (2013-06-27)180 days
2nd Rudd 22 June 2013 (2013-06-22)18 September 2013 (2013-09-18)
5 Anne Ruston Liberal 1st Morrison Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific28 August 2018 (2018-08-28)29 May 2019 (2019-05-29)274 days
6 Nita Green Labor 2nd Albanese Assistant Minister for Pacific Island Affairs13 May 2025 (2025-05-13)Incumbent240 days

International development

This section is an excerpt from Minister for International Development § List of assistant ministers.[ edit ]

The following individuals have been appointed as parliamentary secretaries and assistant ministers for Pacific Island affairs or any of its precedent titles: [2]

OrderMinisterPartyMinistryMinisterial titleTerm startTerm endTerm in office
1 Bob McMullan Labor 1st Rudd Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance3 December 2007 (2007-12-03)24 June 2010 (2010-06-24)2 years, 285 days
1st Gillard 24 June 2010 (2010-06-24)14 September 2010 (2010-09-14)
2 Anne Ruston Liberal 1st Morrison Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific28 August 2018 (2018-08-28)29 May 2019 (2019-05-29)274 days

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Ministries and Cabinets". 43rd Parliamentary Handbook: Historical information on the Australian Parliament. Parliament of Australia. 2010. Archived from the original on 13 August 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  2. 1 2 "The 45th Parliament: Parliamentary Handbook of the Commonwealth of Australia 2017". Parliament of Australia. 2017. Archived from the original on 11 July 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
  3. ↑ "Ministry list as at 13 May 2025". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia) . 13 May 2025. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
  4. 1 2 "The 45th Parliament: Parliamentary Handbook of the Commonwealth of Australia 2017". Parliament of Australia. 2017. Archived from the original on 11 July 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2017.
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