# Minister for the Arts (Australia)

The Minister for the Arts is a position in the Cabinet of Australia 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.
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:
| 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 | Minister for the Environment, Aborigines and the Arts | 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 | Labor | Hawke | 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 | Labor | Hawke | Minister for the Arts, Sport, the Environment, Tourism and Territories | 19 January 1988 (1988-01-19) | 4 April 1990 (1990-04-04) | 2 years, 75 days |
| 7 | Ros Kelly | Labor | Hawke | Minister for the Arts, Sport, the Environment, Tourism and Territories | 4 April 1990 (1990-04-04) | 27 December 1991 (1991-12-27) | 2 years, 354 days |
| 7 | Ros Kelly | Labor | Keating | Minister for the Arts, Sport, the Environment and Territories | 27 December 1991 (1991-12-27) | 24 March 1993 (1993-03-24) | 2 years, 354 days |
| 8 | Bob McMullan | Labor | Keating | Minister for the Arts and Administrative Services | 24 March 1993 (1993-03-24) | 30 January 1994 (1994-01-30) | 312 days |
| 9 | Michael Lee | Labor | Keating | 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 | Minister for Communications and the Arts | 11 March 1996 (1996-03-11) | 9 October 1997 (1997-10-09) | 7 years, 210 days |
| 10 | Richard Alston | Liberal | Howard | Minister for Communications, the Information Economy and the Arts | 9 October 1997 (1997-10-09) | 21 October 1998 (1998-10-21) | 7 years, 210 days |
| 10 | Richard Alston | Liberal | Howard | Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts | 21 October 1998 (1998-10-21) | 7 October 2003 (2003-10-07) | 7 years, 210 days |
| 11 | Daryl Williams | Liberal | Howard | Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts | 7 October 2003 (2003-10-07) | 18 July 2004 (2004-07-18) | 285 days |
| 12 | Helen Coonan | Liberal | Howard | Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts | 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 |
| 13 | Peter Garrett | Labor | Rudd | Minister for Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts | 8 March 2010 (2010-03-08) | 28 June 2010 (2010-06-28) | 2 years, 285 days |
| 13 | Peter Garrett | Labor | Gillard | Minister for Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts | 28 June 2010 (2010-06-28) | 14 September 2010 (2010-09-14) | 2 years, 285 days |
| 14 | Simon Crean | Labor | Gillard | Minister for the Arts | 14 September 2010 (2010-09-14) | 25 March 2013 (2013-03-25) | 2 years, 192 days |
| 15 | Tony Burke | Labor | Gillard | Minister for the Arts | 25 March 2013 (2013-03-25) | 26 June 2013 (2013-06-26) | 177 days |
| 15 | Tony Burke | Labor | Rudd | Minister for the Arts | 26 June 2013 (2013-06-26) | 18 September 2013 (2013-09-18) | 177 days |
| 16 | George Brandis | Liberal | Abbott | Minister for the Arts | 18 September 2013 (2013-09-18) | 15 September 2015 (2015-09-15) | 2 years, 3 days |
| 16 | George Brandis | Liberal | Turnbull | Minister for the Arts | 15 September 2015 (2015-09-15) | 21 September 2015 (2015-09-21) | 2 years, 3 days |
| 17 | Mitch Fifield | Liberal | Turnbull | Minister for the Arts | 21 September 2015 (2015-09-21) | 23 August 2018 (2018-08-23) | 3 years, 250 days |
| 17 | Mitch Fifield | Liberal | Morrison | Minister for Communications and the Arts | 28 August 2018 (2018-08-28) | 29 May 2019 (2019-05-29) | 3 years, 250 days |
| 18 | Paul Fletcher | Liberal | Morrison | Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts | 29 May 2019 (2019-05-29) | 22 December 2020 (2020-12-22) | 2 years, 359 days |
| 18 | Paul Fletcher | Liberal | Morrison | Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts | 22 December 2020 (2020-12-22) | 23 May 2022 (2022-05-23) | 2 years, 359 days |
| (15) | Tony Burke | Labor | Albanese | Minister for the Arts | 1 June 2022 (2022-06-01) | Incumbent | 2 years, 193 days |

## Former ministerial titles
### List of junior arts ministers

| Order | Minister | Party | Prime Minister | Title | Term start | Term end | Term in office |
| 1 | Gary Punch | Labor | Hawke | Minister for the Arts and Territories | 19 January 1988 (1988-01-19) | 2 September 1988 (1988-09-02) | 227 days |
| 2 | Clyde Holding | Labor | Hawke | Minister for the Arts and Territories | 2 September 1988 (1988-09-02) | 22 May 1989 (1989-05-22) | 1 year, 214 days |
| 2 | Clyde Holding | Labor | Hawke | Minister for the Arts, Tourism and Territories | 22 May 1989 (1989-05-22) | 4 April 1990 (1990-04-04) | 1 year, 214 days |
| 3 | David Simmons | Labor | Hawke | Minister for the Arts, Tourism and Territories | 4 April 1990 (1990-04-04) | 20 December 1991 (1991-12-20) | 1 year, 267 days |
| 3 | David Simmons | Labor | Keating | Minister for the Arts, Tourism and Territories | 20 December 1991 (1991-12-20) | 27 December 1991 (1991-12-27) | 1 year, 267 days |
| 4 | Wendy Fatin | Labor | Keating | Minister for the Arts and Territories | 27 December 1991 (1991-12-27) | 24 March 1993 (1993-03-24) | 1 year, 87 days |
| 5 | 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 |
| 6 | Rod Kemp | Liberal | Howard | Minister for the Arts and Sport | 26 November 2001 (2001-11-26) | 30 January 2007 (2007-01-30) | 5 years, 65 days |
| 7 | George Brandis | Liberal | Howard | Minister for the Arts and Sport | 30 January 2007 (2007-01-30) | 3 December 2007 (2007-12-03) | 307 days |