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.
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 of 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
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:
Order Minister Party Prime Minister Title Term start Term end Term in office 1 Edmund Barton Protectionist Barton Minister for External Affairs 2 Alfred Deakin Deakin days 3 Billy Hughes Labor Watson days 4 George Reid Free Trade Reid days n/a Alfred Deakin Protectionist Deakin 5 Lee Batchelor Labor Fisher days 6 Littleton Groom Liberal Deakin days n/a Lee Batchelor Labor Fisher 7 Josiah Thomas 8 Paddy Glynn Liberal Cook 9 John Arthur Labor Fisher days 10 Hugh Mahon days Hughes n/a Billy Hughes Nationalist Hughes Minister for External Affairs 11 Stanley Bruce Bruce 12 James Scullin Labor Scullin 13 John Latham United Australia Lyons 14 Sir George Pearce n/a Billy Hughes Page days 15 Sir Henry Somer Gullett Menzies days 16 John McEwen Country days 17 Frederick Stewart United Australia days Fadden days 18 H. V. Evatt Labor Curtin Forde Chifley 19 Percy Spender Liberal Menzies 20 Richard Casey 21 Robert Menzies 22 Sir Garfield Barwick 23 Paul Hasluck Holt McEwen Gorton 24 Gordon Freeth days 25 William McMahonMinister for Foreign AffairsMcMahon 26 Leslie Bury days 27 Nigel Bowen 28 Gough Whitlam Labor Whitlam days 29 Don Willesee 30 Andrew Peacock Liberal Fraser 31 Tony Street 32 Bill Hayden Labor Hawke Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade 33 Gareth Evans Keating Minister for Foreign Affairs 34 Alexander Downer Liberal Howard 35 Stephen Smith Labor Rudd Gillard 36 Kevin Rudd 37Bob Carr Rudd 38 Julie Bishop Liberal Abbott Turnbull Morrison 39 Marise Payne 40 Penny Wong Labor Albanese Incumbent Notes Also served as Prime Minister for some or all of their term. Barton was knighted in 1902, while serving as Minister.
List of ministers for international development
List of ministers for Pacific Island Affairs
Former ministerial titles 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:
Order Minister Party Prime Minister Ministerial title Term start Term end Term in office 1 John Gorton Liberal Menzies Minister Assisting the Minister for External Affairs 2 Don Willesee Labor Whitlam Minister assisting the Minister for Foreign Affairs 19 December 1972 6 November 1973 days 3 Bill Morrison Minister assisting the Minister for Foreign Affairs in matters relating to Papua New Guinea 30 November 1973 6 June 1975 Minister assisting the Minister for Foreign Affairs in matters relating to the Islands of the Pacific 6 June 1975 11 November 1975 4 Gareth Evans Labor Hawke Minister assisting the Minister for Foreign Affairs 13 December 1984 24 July 1987
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:
Order Minister Party Prime Minister Ministerial title Term start Term end Term in office 1 Stephen Martin Labor Keating Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade 2 Andrew Thomson LiberalHowardParliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs 3 Kathy Sullivan 4 Kay Patterson 5 Chris Gallus 6Bruce Billson Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Trade Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs 7 Teresa Gambaro 8 Greg Hunt days 9 Richard Marles Labor Gillard Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs days 10 Brett Mason LiberalAbbottParliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs 11 Steven Ciobo days 12 Tim Watts Labor Albanese Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs 13 Matt Thistlethwaite Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Incumbent
Pacific island affairs
International development
See also List of ambassadors and high commissioners of Australia
References
External links