The Minister for Indigenous Australians in the Government of Australia is a position which holds responsibility for affairs affecting Indigenous Australians. Previous ministers have held various other titles since the position was created in 1968, most recently Minister for Indigenous Affairs. Since July 2024, the position has been held by Malarndirri McCarthy in the Albanese ministry.
McCarthy is the second Indigenous woman and third Indigenous Australian appointed to the role. Her predecessor, Linda Burney, was the first Indigenous woman to be appointed to the role. Burney's predecessor, Ken Wyatt, was the first Indigenous Australian appointed to the role, and the first minister named as Minister for Indigenous Australians.
The role assumes responsibility for matters concerning Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia, and is responsible for the National Indigenous Australians Agency.
Portfolio In the Government of Australia, the Minister administers the portfolio through the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and a range of other government agencies, including: Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination (OIPC) Indigenous Coordination Centres Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC) Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILC) Office of the Aboriginal Land Commissioner Anindilyakawa Land Council Central Land Council Northern Land Council Tiwi Land Council
List of ministers Indigenous Australians The following individuals have been appointed as Minister for Indigenous Australians, or any precedent titles:
Order Minister Party affiliation Prime Minister Ministerial title Term start Term end Term in office 1 Bill Wentworth Liberal Gorton Minister in charge of Aboriginal Affairs under the Prime Minister McMahon 2 Peter Howson Minister for the Environment, Aborigines and the Arts 3 Gough Whitlam Labor Whitlam days 4 Gordon Bryant Minister for Aboriginal Affairs days 5 Jim Cavanagh 6 Les Johnson days 7 Tom Drake-Brockman National Country Fraser days 8 Ian Viner Liberal 9 Fred Chaney 10 Peter Baume 11 Ian Wilson days 12 Clyde Holding Labor Hawke 13 Gerry Hand 14 Robert Tickner Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs Keating 15 John Herron Liberal Howard 16 Philip Ruddock Minister for Reconciliation and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs 17 Amanda Vanstone 18 Mal Brough Minister for Families and Community Services and Indigenous Affairs 19 Jenny Macklin Labor Rudd Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Gillard Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Rudd 20 Nigel Scullion National Abbott Minister for Indigenous Affairs Turnbull Morrison 21 Ken Wyatt Liberal Minister for Indigenous Australians 22 Linda Burney Labor Albanese 23 Malarndirri McCarthy Incumbent
Notes Whitlam was one of a two-man ministry consisting of himself and Lance Barnard for two weeks until the full ministry was announced.
Former ministerial titles Reconciliation Order Minister Party Prime Minister Title Term start Term end Term in office 1Philip Ruddock Liberal Howard Minister assisting the Prime Minister for Reconciliation21 October 199830 January 2001 Minister for Reconciliation and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs30 January 200126 November 2001 Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Reconciliation26 November 20017 October 2003 2 Amanda Vanstone 7 October 200322 October 2004
Indigenous Employment and Economic Development Order Minister Party Prime Minister Title Term start Term end Term in office 1 Mark Arbib Labor Gillard Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development 14 September 2010 14 December 2011 2 Julie Collins 14 December 2011 18 September 2013
Indigenous health
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