# Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations

The Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations is a position currently held by Murray Watt in the Albanese ministry since July 2024.
In the Government of Australia, the minister administers this portfolio through the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.

## Portfolio scope

Other bodies in these portfolios include,:
* Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency
* Australian Building and Construction Commission (abolished in 2023)
* Comcare
* Fair Work Commission
* Fair Work Ombudsman
* Registered Organisations Commission
* Safe Work Australia
* Workplace Gender Equality Agency

## List of ministers for employment

The following individuals have been appointed as the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, or any of its precedent titles:
| Order | Minister | Party | Prime Minister | Title | Term start | Term end | Term in office |
| 1 | Harold Holt | United Australia | Menzies | Minister for Labour and National Service | 28 October 1940 (1940-10-28) | 29 August 1941 (1941-08-29) | 344 days |
| 1 | Harold Holt | United Australia | Fadden | Minister for Labour and National Service | 29 August 1941 (1941-08-29) | 7 October 1941 (1941-10-07) | 344 days |
| 2 | Eddie Ward | Labor | Curtin | Minister for Labour and National Service | 7 October 1941 (1941-10-07) | 21 September 1943 (1943-09-21) | 1 year, 349 days |
| 3 | Jack Holloway | Labor | Curtin | Minister for Labour and National Service | 21 September 1943 (1943-09-21) | 6 July 1945 (1945-07-06) | 6 years, 89 days |
| 3 | Jack Holloway | Labor | Forde | Minister for Labour and National Service | 6 July 1945 (1945-07-06) | 13 July 1945 (1945-07-13) | 6 years, 89 days |
| 3 | Jack Holloway | Labor | Chifley | Minister for Labour and National Service | 13 July 1945 (1945-07-13) | 19 December 1949 (1949-12-19) | 6 years, 89 days |
| (1) | Harold Holt | Liberal | Menzies | Minister for Labour and National Service | 19 December 1949 (1949-12-19) | 10 December 1958 (1958-12-10) | 8 years, 356 days |
| 4 | William McMahon | Liberal | Menzies | Minister for Labour and National Service | 10 December 1958 (1958-12-10) | 26 January 1966 (1966-01-26) | 7 years, 47 days |
| 5 | Les Bury | Liberal | Holt | Minister for Labour and National Service | 26 January 1966 (1966-01-26) | 19 December 1967 (1967-12-19) | 3 years, 290 days |
| 5 | Les Bury | Liberal | McEwen | Minister for Labour and National Service | 19 December 1967 (1967-12-19) | 10 January 1968 (1968-01-10) | 3 years, 290 days |
| 5 | Les Bury | Liberal | Gorton | Minister for Labour and National Service | 10 January 1968 (1968-01-10) | 12 November 1969 (1969-11-12) | 3 years, 290 days |
| 6 | Billy Snedden | Liberal | Gorton | Minister for Labour and National Service | 12 November 1969 (1969-11-12) | 10 March 1971 (1971-03-10) | 1 year, 130 days |
| 6 | Billy Snedden | Liberal | McMahon | Minister for Labour and National Service | 10 March 1971 (1971-03-10) | 22 March 1971 (1971-03-22) | 1 year, 130 days |
| 7 | Phillip Lynch | Liberal | McMahon | Minister for Labour and National Service | 22 March 1971 (1971-03-22) | 5 December 1972 (1972-12-05) | 1 year, 258 days |
| 8 | Lance Barnard | Labor | Whitlam | Minister for Labour and National Service | 5 December 1972 (1972-12-05) | 19 December 1972 (1972-12-19) | 14 days |
| 9 | Clyde Cameron | Labor | Whitlam | Minister for Labour | 19 December 1972 (1972-12-19) | 12 June 1974 (1974-06-12) | 2 years, 169 days |
| 9 | Clyde Cameron | Labor | Whitlam | Minister for Labour and Immigration | 12 June 1974 (1974-06-12) | 6 June 1975 (1975-06-06) | 2 years, 169 days |
| 10 | Jim McClelland | Labor | Whitlam | Minister for Labour and Immigration | 6 June 1975 (1975-06-06) | 11 November 1975 (1975-11-11) | 158 days |
| 11 | Tony Street | Liberal | Fraser | Minister for Labour and Immigration | 11 November 1975 (1975-11-11) | 22 December 1975 (1975-12-22) | 3 years, 24 days |
| 11 | Tony Street | Liberal | Fraser | Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations | 22 December 1975 (1975-12-22) | 5 December 1978 (1978-12-05) | 3 years, 24 days |
| 12 | Ian Viner | Liberal | Fraser | Minister for Employment and Youth Affairs | 5 December 1978 (1978-12-05) | 6 April 1981 (1981-04-06) | 2 years, 122 days |
| 13 | Neil Brown | Liberal | Fraser | Minister for Employment and Youth Affairs | 6 April 1981 (1981-04-06) | 7 May 1982 (1982-05-07) | 1 year, 31 days |
| 14 | Ian Macphee | Liberal | Fraser | Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations | 7 May 1982 (1982-05-07) | 11 March 1983 (1983-03-11) | 308 days |
| 15 | Ralph Willis | Labor | Hawke | Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations | 11 March 1983 (1983-03-11) | 24 July 1987 (1987-07-24) | 4 years, 135 days |
| 16 | John Dawkins | Labor | Hawke | Minister for Employment, Education and Training | 24 July 1987 (1987-07-24) | 20 December 1991 (1991-12-20) | 4 years, 156 days |
| 16 | John Dawkins | Labor | Keating | Minister for Employment, Education and Training | 20 December 1991 (1991-12-20) | 27 December 1991 (1991-12-27) | 4 years, 156 days |
| 17 | Kim Beazley | Labor | Keating | Minister for Employment, Education and Training | 27 December 1991 (1991-12-27) | 23 December 1993 (1993-12-23) | 1 year, 361 days |
| 18 | Simon Crean | Labor | Keating | Minister for Employment, Education and Training | 23 December 1993 (1993-12-23) | 11 March 1996 (1996-03-11) | 2 years, 79 days |
| 19 | Amanda Vanstone | Liberal | Howard | Minister for Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs | 11 March 1996 (1996-03-11) | 9 October 1997 (1997-10-09) | 1 year, 212 days |
| 20 | David Kemp | Liberal | Howard | Minister for Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs | 9 October 1997 (1997-10-09) | 21 October 1998 (1998-10-21) | 1 year, 12 days |
| 21 | Peter Reith | Liberal | Howard | Minister for Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business | 21 October 1998 (1998-10-21) | 30 January 2001 (2001-01-30) | 2 years, 101 days |
| 22 | Tony Abbott | Liberal | Howard | Minister for Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business | 30 January 2001 (2001-01-30) | 26 November 2001 (2001-11-26) | 2 years, 250 days |
| 22 | Tony Abbott | Liberal | Howard | Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations | 26 November 2001 (2001-11-26) | 7 October 2003 (2003-10-07) | 2 years, 250 days |
| 23 | Kevin Andrews | Liberal | Howard | Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations | 7 October 2003 (2003-10-07) | 30 January 2007 (2007-01-30) | 3 years, 115 days |
| 24 | Joe Hockey | Liberal | Howard | Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations | 30 January 2007 (2007-01-30) | 3 December 2007 (2007-12-03) | 307 days |
| 25 | Julia Gillard | Labor | Rudd | Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations | 3 December 2007 (2007-12-03) | 24 June 2010 | 2 years, 207 days |
| 25 | Julia Gillard | Labor | Gillard | Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations | 24 June 2010 | 28 June 2010 | 2 years, 207 days |
| (18) | Simon Crean | Labor | Gillard | Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations | 28 June 2010 (2010-06-28) | 14 September 2010 (2010-09-14) | 78 days |
| 26 | Chris Evans | Labor | Gillard | Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations | 14 September 2010 (2010-09-14) | 14 December 2011 (2011-12-14) | 1 year, 91 days |
| 27 | Bill Shorten | Labor | Gillard | Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations | 14 December 2011 (2011-12-14) | 1 July 2013 (2013-07-01) | 1 year, 199 days |
| 28 | Brendan O'Connor | Labor | Rudd | Minister for Employment Minister for Skills and Training | 1 July 2013 (2013-07-01) | 18 September 2013 (2013-09-18) | 79 days |
| 29 | Eric Abetz | Liberal | Abbott | Minister for Employment | 18 September 2013 (2013-09-18) | 15 September 2015 (2015-09-15) | 2 years, 3 days |
| 29 | Eric Abetz | Liberal | Turnbull | Minister for Employment | 15 September 2015 (2015-09-15) | 21 September 2015 (2015-09-21) | 2 years, 3 days |
| 30 | Michaelia Cash | Liberal | Turnbull | Minister for Employment | 21 September 2015 (2015-09-21) | 20 December 2017 (2017-12-20) | 2 years, 341 days |
| 30 | Michaelia Cash | Liberal | Turnbull | Minister for Jobs and Innovation | 20 December 2017 (2017-12-20) | 28 August 2018 (2018-08-28) | 2 years, 341 days |
| 31 | Kelly O'Dwyer | Liberal | Morrison | Minister for Jobs and Industrial Relations | 28 August 2018 (2018-08-28) | 11 April 2019 (2019-04-11) | 226 days |
| (30) | Michaelia Cash | Liberal | Morrison | Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business | 29 May 2019 (2019-05-29) | 30 March 2021 (2021-03-30) | 1 year, 305 days |
| 32 | Stuart Robert | Liberal | Morrison | Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business | 30 March 2021 (2021-03-30) | 23 May 2022 (2022-05-23) | 1 year, 54 days |
| 33 | Richard Marles | Labor | Albanese | Minister for Employment | 23 May 2022 (2022-05-23) | 1 June 2022 (2022-06-01) | 9 days |
| 34 | Tony Burke | Labor | Albanese | Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations | 1 June 2022 (2022-06-01) | 29 July 2024 (2024-07-29) | 2 years, 58 days |
| 35 | Murray Watt | Labor | Albanese | Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations | 29 July 2024 (2024-07-29) | Incumbent | 134 days |
Notes
    Barnard was part of a two-man ministry that comprised Barnard and Gough Whitlam for fourteen days until the full ministry was commissioned.
    Despite the First Rudd ministry ending on 24 June 2010, Gillard was Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations for four days in her first ministry, between 24 June and 28 June 2010, when the revised ministry was commissioned.

## List of ministers for Workplace Relations

The following individuals have been appointed as Minister for Workplace Relations, or any of its subsequent titles:
| Order | Minister | Party | Prime Minister | Title | Term start | Term end | Term in office |
| 1 | Tony Street | Liberal | Fraser | Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations | 22 December 1975 (1975-12-22) | 5 December 1978 (1978-12-05) | 4 years, 358 days |
| 1 | Tony Street | Liberal | Fraser | Minister for Industrial Relations | 5 December 1978 (1978-12-05) | 3 November 1980 (1980-11-03) | 4 years, 358 days |
| 2 | Andrew Peacock | Liberal | Fraser | Minister for Industrial Relations | 3 November 1980 (1980-11-03) | 16 April 1981 (1981-04-16) | 164 days |
| 3 | Ian Viner | Liberal | Fraser | Minister for Industrial Relations | 16 April 1981 (1981-04-16) | 7 May 1982 (1982-05-07) | 1 year, 21 days |
| 4 | Ian Macphee | Liberal | Fraser | Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations | 7 May 1982 (1982-05-07) | 11 March 1983 (1983-03-11) | 308 days |
| 5 | Ralph Willis | Labor | Hawke | Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations | 11 March 1983 (1983-03-11) | 24 July 1987 (1987-07-24) | 5 years, 175 days |
| 5 | Ralph Willis | Labor | Hawke | Minister for Industrial Relations | 24 July 1987 (1987-07-24) | 2 September 1988 (1988-09-02) | 5 years, 175 days |
| 6 | Peter Morris | Labor | Hawke | Minister for Industrial Relations | 2 September 1988 (1988-09-02) | 4 April 1990 (1990-04-04) | 1 year, 214 days |
| 7 | Peter Cook | Labor | Hawke | Minister for Industrial Relations | 4 April 1990 (1990-04-04) | 20 December 1991 (1991-12-20) | 2 years, 354 days |
| 7 | Peter Cook | Labor | Keating | Minister for Industrial Relations | 20 December 1991 (1991-12-20) | 24 March 1993 (1993-03-24) | 2 years, 354 days |
| 8 | Laurie Brereton | Labor | Keating | Minister for Industrial Relations | 24 March 1993 (1993-03-24) | 11 March 1996 (1996-03-11) | 2 years, 353 days |
| 9 | Peter Reith | Liberal | Howard | Minister for Industrial Relations | 11 March 1996 (1996-03-11) | 18 July 1997 (1997-07-18) | 5 years, 211 days |
| 9 | Peter Reith | Liberal | Howard | Minister for Workplace Relations and Small Business | 18 July 1997 (1997-07-18) | 21 October 1998 (1998-10-21) | 5 years, 211 days |
| 9 | Peter Reith | Liberal | Howard | Minister for Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business | 21 October 1998 (1998-10-21) | 30 January 2001 (2001-01-30) | 2 years, 101 days |
| 10 | Tony Abbott | Liberal | Howard | Minister for Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business | 30 January 2001 (2001-01-30) | 26 November 2001 (2001-11-26) | 2 years, 250 days |
| 10 | Tony Abbott | Liberal | Howard | Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations | 26 November 2001 (2001-11-26) | 7 October 2003 (2003-10-07) | 2 years, 250 days |
| 11 | Kevin Andrews | Liberal | Howard | Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations | 7 October 2003 (2003-10-07) | 30 January 2007 (2007-01-30) | 3 years, 115 days |
| 12 | Joe Hockey | Liberal | Howard | Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations | 30 January 2007 (2007-01-30) | 3 December 2007 (2007-12-03) | 307 days |
| 13 | Julia Gillard | Labor | Rudd | Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations | 3 December 2007 (2007-12-03) | 24 June 2010 | 2 years, 207 days |
| 13 | Julia Gillard | Labor | Gillard | Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations | 24 June 2010 | 28 June 2010 | 2 years, 207 days |
| 14 | Simon Crean | Labor | Gillard | Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations | 28 June 2010 (2010-06-28) | 14 September 2010 (2010-09-14) | 78 days |
| 15 | Chris Evans | Labor | Gillard | Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations | 14 September 2010 (2010-09-14) | 14 December 2011 (2011-12-14) | 1 year, 91 days |
| 16 | Bill Shorten | Labor | Gillard | Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations | 14 December 2011 (2011-12-14) | 1 July 2013 (2013-07-01) | 1 year, 278 days |
| 16 | Bill Shorten | Labor | Rudd | Minister for Workplace Relations | 1 July 2013 (2013-07-01) | 18 September 2013 (2013-09-18) | 1 year, 278 days |
| 17 | Kelly O'Dwyer | Liberal | Morrison | Minister for Jobs and Industrial Relations | 28 August 2018 (2018-08-28) | 11 April 2019 (2019-04-11) | 226 days |
| 18 | Christian Porter | Liberal | Morrison | Minister for Industrial Relations | 29 May 2019 (2019-05-29) | 30 March 2021 (2021-03-30) | 1 year, 305 days |
| 19 | Michaelia Cash | Liberal | Morrison | Minister for Industrial Relations | 30 March 2021 (2021-03-30) | 23 May 2022 (2022-05-23) | 1 year, 54 days |
| 20 | Tony Burke | Labor | Albanese | Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations | 1 June 2022 (2022-06-01) | 29 July 2024 (2024-07-29) | 2 years, 58 days |
| 21 | Murray Watt | Labor | Albanese | Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations | 29 July 2024 (2024-07-29) | Incumbent | 134 days |

## Former ministerial titles
### List of ministers for employment participation

The following individuals have been appointed as Minister for Employment Participation, or any of its precedent titles:
| Order | Minister | Party | Prime Minister | Title | Term start | Term end | Term in office |
| 1 | Clyde Holding | Labor | Hawke | Minister for Employment Services and Youth Affairs | 24 July 1987 (1987-07-24) | 19 January 1988 (1988-01-19) | 179 days |
| 2 | Peter Duncan | Labor | Hawke | Minister for Employment and Education Services | 19 January 1988 (1988-01-19) | 4 April 1990 (1990-04-04) | 2 years, 75 days |
| 3 | Peter Baldwin | Labor | Hawke | Minister for Employment and Education Services | 4 April 1990 (1990-04-04) | 7 May 1990 (1990-05-07) | 2 years, 354 days |
| 3 | Peter Baldwin | Labor | Keating | Minister for Higher Education and Employment Services | 7 May 1990 (1990-05-07) | 20 December 1991 (1991-12-20) | 2 years, 354 days |
| 3 | Peter Baldwin | Labor | Keating | Minister for Higher Education and Employment Services | 20 December 1991 (1991-12-20) | 24 March 1993 (1993-03-24) | 2 years, 354 days |
| 4 | Tony Abbott | Liberal | Howard | Minister for Employment Services | 21 October 1998 (1998-10-21) | 30 January 2001 (2001-01-30) | 2 years, 101 days |
| 5 | Mal Brough | Liberal | Howard | Minister for Employment Services | 14 February 2001 (2001-02-14) | 18 July 2004 (2004-07-18) | 3 years, 155 days |
| 6 | Fran Bailey | Liberal | Howard | Minister for Employment Services | 18 July 2004 (2004-07-18) | 26 October 2004 (2004-10-26) | 100 days |
| 7 | Peter Dutton | Liberal | Howard | Minister for Workforce Participation | 26 October 2004 (2004-10-26) | 27 January 2006 (2006-01-27) | 1 year, 93 days |
| 8 | Sharman Stone | Liberal | Howard | Minister for Workforce Participation | 27 January 2006 (2006-01-27) | 3 December 2007 (2007-12-03) | 1 year, 310 days |
| 9 | Brendan O'Connor | Labor | Rudd | Minister for Employment Participation | 3 December 2007 (2007-12-03) | 9 June 2009 (2009-06-09) | 1 year, 188 days |
| 10 | Mark Arbib | Labor | Rudd | Minister for Employment Participation | 9 June 2009 (2009-06-09) | 28 June 2010 (2010-06-28) | 1 year, 97 days |
| 10 | Mark Arbib | Labor | Gillard | Minister for Employment Participation | 28 June 2010 (2010-06-28) | 14 September 2010 (2010-09-14) | 1 year, 97 days |
| 11 | Kate Ellis | Labor | Gillard | Minister for Employment Participation and Childcare | 14 September 2010 (2010-09-14) | 14 December 2011 (2011-12-14) | 3 years, 4 days |
| 11 | Kate Ellis | Labor | Gillard | Minister for Employment Participation | 14 December 2011 (2011-12-14) | 1 July 2013 (2013-07-01) | 3 years, 4 days |
| 11 | Kate Ellis | Labor | Rudd | Minister for Employment Participation | 1 July 2013 (2013-07-01) | 18 September 2013 (2013-09-18) | 3 years, 4 days |
| 12 | Luke Hartsuyker | Nationals | Abbott | Assistant Minister for Employment | 18 September 2013 (2013-09-18) | 15 September 2015 (2015-09-15) | 2 years, 3 days |
| 12 | Luke Hartsuyker | Nationals | Turnbull | Assistant Minister for Employment | 15 September 2015 (2015-09-15) | 21 September 2015 (2015-09-21) | 2 years, 3 days |

## List of assistant ministers

The following individuals have been appointed as Assistant Minister for Science, Jobs and Innovation, or any of its precedent titles:
| Order | Minister | Party | Party | Prime Minister | Title | Term start | Term end | Term in office |
| 1 | Zed Seselja | | Liberal | Turnbull | Assistant Minister for Science, Jobs and Innovation | 20 December 2017 (2017-12-20) | 23 August 2018 (2018-08-23) | 246 days |
| 2 | Andrew Leigh | | Labor | Albanese | Assistant Minister for Employment | 31 May 2023 (2023-05-31) | incumbent | 1 year, 193 days |