The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs is a position in the Cabinet of Western Australia, first created in 1947 during the McLarty–Watts Ministry.
The current Minister for Aboriginal Affairs is Tony Buti of the Labor Party. The minister is responsible for the state government's Department of Aboriginal Affairs (DAA), which exists "to facilitate the development of policy and programs which deliver sustainable economic, environmental and social benefits to Aboriginal communities".Department of Aboriginal Affairs – Government of Western Australia. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
List of ministers for Aboriginal affairs Twenty one people have been appointed as Minister for Aboriginal Affairs in Western Australia, with Edgar Lewis's 8 years and 325 days during the Brand–Nalder Ministry the longest period in the position. The position and corresponding department have existed under several different names, including Native Affairs (4 years), Native Welfare (19 years), Aboriginal Affairs (23 years), and Indigenous Affairs (12 years).Aboriginal / Indigenous Affairs Ministers of Western Australia – Parliamentary Library of Western Australia. Last updated 29 June 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2015. The current name was adopted after requests from representatives of Western Australia's Aboriginal communities.
In the table below, members of the Legislative Council are designated "MLC". All others were members of the Legislative Assembly at the time of their service. In Western Australia, serving ministers are entitled to be styled "The Honourable", and may retain the style after three years' service in the ministry.Addressing a Member of Parliament – Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
Order Minister Party Premier Title Term start Term end Term in office 1 Ross McDonald Liberal McLarty Minister for Native Affairs Minister for Native Welfare 2 Hubert Parker MLC Minister for Native Affairs 3 Victor Doney Country 4 Bill Hegney Labor Hawke Minister for Native Welfare 5 John Brady 6 Charles Perkins Country Brand 7 George Cornell 8 Edgar Lewis No minister – portfolio transferred to Minister for Community Welfare (1971–1983). 9 Keith Wilson Labor Burke Minister with special responsibility for Aboriginal Affairs Minister for Aboriginal Affairs 10 Ernie Bridge Dowding 11 Carmen Lawrence Lawrence 12 Judyth Watson 13 Kevin Minson Liberal Court 14 Kevin Prince 15 Kim Hames see below 16 Alan Carpenter Labor Gallop Minister for Indigenous Affairs 17 John Kobelke Carpenter 18 Sheila McHale 19 Michelle Roberts (15) Kim Hames Liberal Barnett 6 years, 120 days 20 Peter Collier MLC Minister for Aboriginal Affairs 21 Ben Wyatt Labor McGowan 22 Stephen Dawson 23 Tony Buti 8 June 2023 Cook8 June 2023incumbent
See also Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (New South Wales) Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (Victoria) Minister for Indigenous Affairs (Australia)
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