Minister for Science

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Minister for Science
Coat of Arms of Australia.svg
Commonwealth Coat of Arms
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
Flag of Australia
Tim Ayres Official Portrait (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Tim Ayres
since 13 May 2025 (2025-05-13)
Department of Industry, Science and Resources
Style The Honourable
Appointer Governor-General
on the advice of the prime minister
Inaugural holder Alexander McLachlan (as Minister in charge of Development and Scientific and Industrial Research)
Formation6 January 1932 (1932-01-06)
Website www.minister.industry.gov.au/ministers/timayres

The Minister for Science is an Australian Government cabinet position which is currently held by Tim Ayres following his swearing-in on 13 May 2025 as a result of Anthony Albanese's Labor government being re-elected at the 2025 Australian federal election.

Contents

In the Government of Australia, the minister administers this portfolio through the Department of Industry, Science and Resources.

Scope

As of 2013 other bodies in the portfolio included: [1]

The Australian Space Agency opened in Adelaide in February 2020. [2]

List of science ministers

In 1931 and from 1932 to 1937, 1940 to 1949 and 1950 to 1963 there were ministers in charge of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and its successors. In 1963 John Gorton was given responsibility for science (and education) generally.

OrderMinisterPartyPrime MinisterTitleTerm startTerm endTerm in office
1 Jack Holloway Labor Scullin Assistant Minister for Industry, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research3 March 193112 June 1931101 days
2 Alexander McLachlan United Australia Lyons Minister in charge of Development and Scientific and Industrial Research6 January 193229 November 19375 years, 327 days
3 Richard Casey 29 November 19377 November 1938343 days
4 Henry Gullett United Australia Menzies Minister in charge of Scientific and Industrial Research14 March 194013 August 1940121 days
5 Herbert Collett 14 August 194028 October 194044 days
6 Harold Holt 28 October 194028 August 1941304 days
7 John Dedman Labor Curtin Minister in charge of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research7 October 19416 July 19458 years, 73 days
Forde 6 July 194513 July 1945
Chifley 13 July 194519 December 1949
(3) Richard Casey  Liberal Menzies Minister in charge of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation 23 March 19504 February 19609 years, 318 days
8 Donald Cameron  4 February 196022 December 19611 year, 322 days
9 Robert Menzies  22 December 196116 February 196256 days
10 John Gorton  16 February 196218 December 19636 years, 2 days
 Minister in charge of Commonwealth Activities in Education and Research under the Prime Minister18 December 196321 January 1966
  Holt 26 January 196614 December 1966
 Minister for Education and Science14 December 196619 December 1967
  McEwen 19 December 196710 January 1968
  Gorton 10 January 196828 February 1968
11 Malcolm Fraser  28 February 196812 November 19691 year, 257 days
12 Nigel Bowen  12 November 196910 March 1971495 days
  McMahon 10 March 197122 March 1971
13 David Fairbairn  22 March 197120 August 1971161 days
(11) Malcolm Fraser  20 August 19715 December 19721 year, 107 days
14 Gough Whitlam Labor Whitlam 5 December 197219 December 197214 days
15 Bill Morrison Minister for Science19 December 19726 June 19752 years, 169 days
Minister for Science and Consumer Affairs 6 June 19756 June 1975
16 Clyde Cameron 6 June 197511 November 1975158 days
17 Bob Cotton  Liberal Fraser 11 November 197522 December 1975158 days
18 James Webster National Country Minister for Science22 December 19755 December 19783 years, 351 days
Minister for Science and the Environment 5 December 19788 December 1979
19 David Thomson 8 December 19793 November 19803 years, 93 days
Minister for Science and Technology3 November 198016 October 1982
National 16 October 198211 March 1983
20 Barry Jones Labor Hawke 11 March 198313 December 19847 years, 24 days
Minister for Science13 December 198424 July 1987
Minister for Science and Small Business 24 July 198719 January 1988
Minister for Science, Customs and Small Business 19 January 19884 April 1990
21 Simon Crean Minister for Science and Technology4 April 19904 June 19911 year, 61 days
22 Ross Free 4 June 199120 December 19912 years, 293 days
Keating 20 December 199124 March 1993
23 Chris Schacht Minister for Science and Small Business 24 March 199325 March 19941 year, 1 day
24 Peter Cook Minister for Science and Small Business 25 March 199411 March 19961 year, 352 days
25 Peter McGauran National Howard Minister for Science and Technology11 March 199626 September 19971 year, 199 days
26 John Moore  LiberalMinister for Industry, Science and Tourism 11 March 199621 October 19982 years, 224 days
27 Nick Minchin  Minister for Industry, Science and Resources 21 October 199826 November 20013 years, 36 days
(25) Peter McGauran NationalMinister for Science26 November 200122 October 20042 years, 331 days
26 Brendan Nelson  LiberalMinister for Education, Science and Training22 October 200427 January 20061 year, 97 days
27 Julie Bishop  27 January 20063 December 20071 year, 310 days
28 Kim Carr Labor Rudd Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research3 December 200724 June 20104 years, 11 days
Gillard 24 June 201014 December 2011
29 Chris Evans Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research14 December 20112 February 20131 year, 50 days
30 Chris Bowen 2 February 201322 March 201348 days
31 Craig Emerson 25 March 201326 June 201393 days
(28) Kim Carr RuddMinister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research26 June 201318 September 2013145 days
32 Ian Macfarlane  Liberal Abbott Minister for Industry and Science23 December 201415 September 2015272 days
  Turnbull 15 September 201521 September 2015
33 Christopher Pyne Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science21 September 201519 July 2016302 days
34 Greg Hunt 19 July 201624 January 2017189 days
35 Arthur Sinodinos 24 January 201720 December 2017330 days
36 Karen Andrews Liberal Morrison Minister for Industry, Science and Technology28 August 201830 March 20212 years, 214 days
37 Christian Porter 30 March 202119 September 2021173 days
38 Melissa Price Minister for Science and Technology8 October 202123 May 2022227 days
39 Ed Husic Labor Albanese Minister for Industry and Science1 June 202213 May 20252 years, 346 days
40 Tim Ayres Minister for Science13 May 2025incumbent2 days

Assistant ministers

List of assistant science ministers

The following individual has been appointed as Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy, or any of its precedent titles:

OrderAssistant MinisterPartyPrime MinisterTitleTerm startTerm endTerm in office
1 Warren Entsch Liberal Howard Parliamentary Secretary for Industry, Science and Resources21 October 199826 November 20013 years, 36 days
2 Karen Andrews Liberal Abbott Parliamentary Secretary for Industry and Science23 December 201421 September 20151 year, 209 days
Turnbull Assistant Minister for Science21 September 201519 July 2016
3 Craig Laundy Assistant Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science19 July 201620 December 20171 year, 154 days
4 Zed Seselja Assistant Minister for Science, Jobs and Innovation20 December 201723 August 2018246 days
5 Andrew Charlton Labor Albanese Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy13 May 2025incumbent2 days

References

  1. ↑ "Portfolio agencies". Australia Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education. Archived from the original on 11 May 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  2. ↑ "Australian Space Agency opens in Adelaide". Australia. Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources. 19 February 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
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