Minister for the Arts
Commonwealth Coat of Arms
Flag of Australia
Incumbent
Tony Burke
since 1 June 2022 (2022-06-01)
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts
StyleThe Honourable
AppointerGovernor-General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister of Australia
Inaugural holderPeter Howson
Formation10 March 1971 (1971-03-10)
Websiteminister.infrastructure.gov.au/burke

The Australian Minister for the Arts is responsible for creative industries and culture. It has been held by Tony Burke in the Albanese ministry since 1 June 2022 following the Australian federal election in 2022.[1]

The minister administers the portfolio through the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.

List of arts ministers

The only minister before Simon Crean to have the title of Minister for the Arts was Bob McMullan between 24 March 1993 and 25 March 1994. However, "Arts" has appeared in several ministerial titles since Peter Howson was appointed Minister for the Environment, Aborigines and the Arts on 10 March 1971. The following individuals have been appointed as Minister for the Arts, or any of its precedent titles:[2]

Order Minister Party Prime Minister Title Term start Term end Term in office
1 Peter Howson   Liberal McMahon Minister for the Environment, Aborigines and the Arts 10 March 1971 (1971-03-10) 5 December 1972 (1972-12-05) 1 year, 270 days
2 Gough Whitlam Labor Whitlam 5 December 1972 (1972-12-05) 19 December 1972 (1972-12-19) 14 days
3 Tony Staley Liberal Fraser Minister assisting the Prime Minister in matters concerning the Arts 16 August 1976 (1976-08-16) 20 December 1977 (1977-12-20) 1 year, 126 days
4 Barry Cohen Labor Hawke Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Environment 13 December 1984 (1984-12-13) 24 July 1987 (1987-07-24) 2 years, 223 days
5 John Brown Minister for the Arts, Sport, the Environment, Tourism and Territories 24 July 1987 (1987-07-24) 18 December 1987 (1987-12-18) 147 days
6 Graham Richardson 19 January 1988 (1988-01-19) 4 April 1990 (1990-04-04) 2 years, 75 days
7 Ros Kelly 4 April 1990 (1990-04-04) 27 December 1991 (1991-12-27) 2 years, 354 days
Keating Minister for the Arts, Sport, the Environment and Territories 27 December 1991 (1991-12-27) 24 March 1993 (1993-03-24)
8 Bob McMullan Minister for the Arts and Administrative Services 24 March 1993 (1993-03-24) 30 January 1994 (1994-01-30) 312 days
9 Michael Lee Minister for Communications and the Arts 30 January 1994 (1994-01-30) 11 March 1996 (1996-03-11) 2 years, 41 days
10 Richard Alston Liberal Howard 11 March 1996 (1996-03-11) 9 October 1997 (1997-10-09) 7 years, 210 days
Minister for Communications, the Information Economy and the Arts 9 October 1997 (1997-10-09) 21 October 1998 (1998-10-21)
Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts 21 October 1998 (1998-10-21) 7 October 2003 (2003-10-07)
11 Daryl Williams 7 October 2003 (2003-10-07) 18 July 2004 (2004-07-18) 285 days
12 Helen Coonan 18 July 2004 (2004-07-18) 3 December 2007 (2007-12-03) 3 years, 138 days
13 Peter Garrett Labor Rudd Minister for Environment, Heritage and the Arts 3 December 2007 (2007-12-03) 8 March 2010 (2010-03-08) 2 years, 285 days
Minister for Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts 8 March 2010 (2010-03-08) 28 June 2010 (2010-06-28)
Gillard 28 June 2010 (2010-06-28) 14 September 2010 (2010-09-14)
14 Simon Crean Minister for the Arts 14 September 2010 (2010-09-14) 25 March 2013 (2013-03-25) 2 years, 192 days
15 Tony Burke 25 March 2013 (2013-03-25) 26 June 2013 (2013-06-26) 177 days
Rudd 26 June 2013 (2013-06-26) 18 September 2013 (2013-09-18)
16 George Brandis Liberal Abbott 18 September 2013 (2013-09-18) 15 September 2015 (2015-09-15) 2 years, 3 days
Turnbull 15 September 2015 (2015-09-15) 21 September 2015 (2015-09-21)
17 Mitch Fifield 21 September 2015 (2015-09-21) 23 August 2018 (2018-08-23) 3 years, 250 days
Morrison Minister for Communications and the Arts 28 August 2018 (2018-08-28) 29 May 2019 (2019-05-29)
18 Paul Fletcher Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts 29 May 2019 (2019-05-29) 22 December 2020 (2020-12-22) 2 years, 359 days
Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts 22 December 2020 (2020-12-22) 23 May 2022 (2022-05-23)
19 Tony Burke Labor Albanese Minister for the Arts 1 June 2022 (2022-06-01) Incumbent 1 year, 262 days

List of arts assistant ministers

Order Minister Party Prime Minister Title Term start Term end Term in office
1 Peter McGauran   National Howard Minister for the Arts and the Centenary of Federation 21 October 1998 (1998-10-21) 26 November 2001 (2001-11-26) 3 years, 36 days
2 Rod Kemp   Liberal Minister for the Arts and Sport 26 November 2001 (2001-11-26) 30 January 2007 (2007-01-30) 5 years, 65 days
3 George Brandis   30 January 2007 (2007-01-30) 3 December 2007 (2007-12-03) 307 days

References

  1. ^ "Press Conference - Parliament House, Canberra | Prime Minister of Australia". www.pm.gov.au. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  2. ^ "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 29 September 2013.

External links

Ministerial portfolios of the Commonwealth of Australia
Category