# Minister for Foreign Affairs (Australia)

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 several subordinate positions, including the Minister for International Development and the Pacific, currently held by Pat Conroy, and the Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, currently held by Tim Watts.

## Scope

The minister is usually one of the most senior members of Cabinet – the position is equivalent to that of Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 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 | 1 January 1901 (1901-01-01) | 24 September 1903 (1903-09-24) | 2 years, 266 days |
| 2 | Alfred Deakin | Protectionist | Deakin | Minister for External Affairs | 24 September 1903 (1903-09-24) | 27 April 1904 (1904-04-27) | 216 days |
| 3 | Billy Hughes | Labor | Watson | Minister for External Affairs | 27 April 1904 (1904-04-27) | 17 August 1904 (1904-08-17) | 112 days |
| 4 | George Reid | Free Trade | Reid | Minister for External Affairs | 18 August 1904 (1904-08-18) | 5 July 1905 (1905-07-05) | 321 days |
| n/a | Alfred Deakin | Protectionist | Deakin | Minister for External Affairs | 5 July 1905 (1905-07-05) | 13 November 1908 (1908-11-13) | 3 years, 131 days |
| 5 | Lee Batchelor | Labor | Fisher | Minister for External Affairs | 13 November 1908 (1908-11-13) | 2 June 1909 (1909-06-02) | 201 days |
| 6 | Littleton Groom | Liberal | Deakin | Minister for External Affairs | 2 June 1909 (1909-06-02) | 29 April 1910 (1910-04-29) | 331 days |
| n/a | Lee Batchelor | Labor | Fisher | Minister for External Affairs | 29 April 1910 (1910-04-29) | 8 October 1911 (1911-10-08) | 1 year, 162 days |
| 7 | Josiah Thomas | Labor | Fisher | Minister for External Affairs | 14 October 1911 (1911-10-14) | 24 June 1913 (1913-06-24) | 1 year, 253 days |
| 8 | Paddy Glynn | Liberal | Cook | Minister for External Affairs | 24 June 1913 (1913-06-24) | 17 September 1914 (1914-09-17) | 1 year, 85 days |
| 9 | John Arthur | Labor | Fisher | Minister for External Affairs | 17 September 1914 (1914-09-17) | 9 December 1914 (1914-12-09) | 83 days |
| 10 | Hugh Mahon | Labor | Fisher | Minister for External Affairs | 9 December 1914 (1914-12-09) | 27 October 1915 (1915-10-27) | 322 days |
| 10 | Hugh Mahon | Labor | Hughes | Minister for External Affairs | 27 October 1915 (1915-10-27) | 14 November 1916 (1916-11-14) | 1 year, 18 days |
| n/a | Billy Hughes | Nationalist | Hughes | Minister for External Affairs | 21 December 1921 (1921-12-21) | 9 February 1923 (1923-02-09) | 1 year, 50 days |
| 11 | Stanley Bruce | Nationalist | Bruce | Minister for External Affairs | 9 February 1923 (1923-02-09) | 22 October 1929 (1929-10-22) | 6 years, 255 days |
| 12 | James Scullin | Labor | Scullin | Minister for External Affairs | 22 October 1929 (1929-10-22) | 6 January 1932 (1932-01-06) | 2 years, 76 days |
| 13 | John Latham | United Australia | Lyons | Minister for External Affairs | 6 January 1932 (1932-01-06) | 12 October 1934 (1934-10-12) | 2 years, 279 days |
| 14 | Sir George Pearce | United Australia | Lyons | Minister for External Affairs | 12 October 1934 (1934-10-12) | 29 November 1937 (1937-11-29) | 3 years, 48 days |
| n/a | Billy Hughes | United Australia | Lyons | Minister for External Affairs | 29 November 1937 (1937-11-29) | 7 April 1939 (1939-04-07) | 1 year, 129 days |
| n/a | Billy Hughes | United Australia | Page | Minister for External Affairs | 7 April 1939 (1939-04-07) | 26 April 1939 (1939-04-26) | 19 days |
| 15 | Sir Henry Somer Gullett | United Australia | Menzies | Minister for External Affairs | 26 April 1939 (1939-04-26) | 14 March 1940 (1940-03-14) | 323 days |
| 16 | John McEwen | Country | Menzies | Minister for External Affairs | 14 March 1940 (1940-03-14) | 28 October 1940 (1940-10-28) | 228 days |
| 17 | Frederick Stewart | United Australia | Menzies | Minister for External Affairs | 28 October 1940 (1940-10-28) | 29 August 1941 (1941-08-29) | 305 days |
| 17 | Frederick Stewart | United Australia | Fadden | Minister for External Affairs | 29 August 1941 (1941-08-29) | 7 October 1941 (1941-10-07) | 39 days |
| 18 | H. V. Evatt | Labor | Curtin | Minister for External Affairs | 7 October 1941 (1941-10-07) | 6 July 1945 (1945-07-06) | 8 years, 73 days |
| 18 | H. V. Evatt | Labor | Forde | Minister for External Affairs | 6 July 1945 (1945-07-06) | 13 July 1945 (1945-07-13) | 8 years, 73 days |
| 18 | H. V. Evatt | Labor | Chifley | Minister for External Affairs | 13 July 1945 (1945-07-13) | 19 December 1949 (1949-12-19) | 8 years, 73 days |
| 19 | Percy Spender | Liberal | Menzies | Minister for External Affairs | 19 December 1949 (1949-12-19) | 26 April 1951 (1951-04-26) | 1 year, 128 days |
| 20 | Richard Casey | Liberal | Menzies | Minister for External Affairs | 27 April 1951 (1951-04-27) | 4 February 1960 (1960-02-04) | 8 years, 283 days |
| 21 | Robert Menzies | Liberal | Menzies | Minister for External Affairs | 4 February 1960 (1960-02-04) | 22 December 1961 (1961-12-22) | 1 year, 321 days |
| 22 | Sir Garfield Barwick | Liberal | Menzies | Minister for External Affairs | 22 December 1961 (1961-12-22) | 24 April 1964 (1964-04-24) | 2 years, 124 days |
| 23 | Paul Hasluck | Liberal | Menzies | Minister for External Affairs | 24 April 1964 (1964-04-24) | 26 January 1966 (1966-01-26) | 4 years, 293 days |
| 23 | Paul Hasluck | Liberal | Holt | Minister for External Affairs | 26 January 1966 (1966-01-26) | 19 December 1967 (1967-12-19) | 4 years, 293 days |
| 23 | Paul Hasluck | Liberal | McEwen | Minister for External Affairs | 19 December 1967 (1967-12-19) | 10 January 1968 (1968-01-10) | 4 years, 293 days |
| 23 | Paul Hasluck | Liberal | Gorton | Minister for External Affairs | 10 January 1968 (1968-01-10) | 11 February 1969 (1969-02-11) | 4 years, 293 days |
| 24 | Gordon Freeth | Liberal | Gorton | Minister for External Affairs | 11 February 1969 (1969-02-11) | 12 November 1969 (1969-11-12) | 274 days |
| 25 | William McMahon | Liberal | Gorton | Minister for External Affairs | 12 November 1969 (1969-11-12) | 6 November 1970 (1970-11-06) | 1 year, 130 days |
| 25 | William McMahon | Liberal | Gorton | Minister for Foreign Affairs | 6 November 1970 (1970-11-06) | 10 March 1971 (1971-03-10) | 1 year, 130 days |
| 25 | William McMahon | Liberal | McMahon | Minister for Foreign Affairs | 10 March 1971 (1971-03-10) | 22 March 1971 (1971-03-22) | 1 year, 130 days |
| 26 | Leslie Bury | Liberal | McMahon | Minister for Foreign Affairs | 22 March 1971 (1971-03-22) | 2 August 1971 (1971-08-02) | 133 days |
| 27 | Nigel Bowen | Liberal | McMahon | Minister for Foreign Affairs | 2 August 1971 (1971-08-02) | 5 December 1972 (1972-12-05) | 1 year, 125 days |
| 28 | Gough Whitlam | Labor | Whitlam | Minister for Foreign Affairs | 5 December 1972 (1972-12-05) | 6 November 1973 (1973-11-06) | 336 days |
| 29 | Don Willesee | Labor | Whitlam | Minister for Foreign Affairs | 6 November 1973 (1973-11-06) | 11 November 1975 (1975-11-11) | 2 years, 5 days |
| 30 | Andrew Peacock | Liberal | Fraser | Minister for Foreign Affairs | 12 November 1975 (1975-11-12) | 3 November 1980 (1980-11-03) | 4 years, 358 days |
| 31 | Tony Street | Liberal | Fraser | Minister for Foreign Affairs | 3 November 1980 (1980-11-03) | 11 March 1983 (1983-03-11) | 2 years, 128 days |
| 32 | Bill Hayden | Labor | Hawke | Minister for Foreign Affairs | 11 March 1983 (1983-03-11) | 24 July 1987 (1987-07-24) | 5 years, 159 days |
| 32 | Bill Hayden | Labor | Hawke | Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade | 24 July 1987 (1987-07-24) | 17 August 1988 (1988-08-17) | 5 years, 159 days |
| 33 | Gareth Evans | Labor | Hawke | Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade | 2 September 1988 (1988-09-02) | 20 December 1991 (1991-12-20) | 7 years, 191 days |
| 33 | Gareth Evans | Labor | Keating | Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade | 20 December 1991 (1991-12-20) | 24 March 1993 (1993-03-24) | 7 years, 191 days |
| 33 | Gareth Evans | Labor | Keating | Minister for Foreign Affairs | 24 March 1993 (1993-03-24) | 11 March 1996 (1996-03-11) | 7 years, 191 days |
| 34 | Alexander Downer | Liberal | Howard | Minister for Foreign Affairs | 11 March 1996 (1996-03-11) | 3 December 2007 (2007-12-03) | 11 years, 267 days |
| 35 | Stephen Smith | Labor | Rudd | Minister for Foreign Affairs | 3 December 2007 (2007-12-03) | 24 June 2010 (2010-06-24) | 2 years, 285 days |
| 35 | Stephen Smith | Labor | Gillard | Minister for Foreign Affairs | 24 June 2010 (2010-06-24) | 14 September 2010 (2010-09-14) | 2 years, 285 days |
| 36 | Kevin Rudd | Labor | Gillard | Minister for Foreign Affairs | 14 September 2010 (2010-09-14) | 22 February 2012 (2012-02-22) | 1 year, 161 days |
| 37 | Bob Carr | Labor | Gillard | Minister for Foreign Affairs | 13 March 2012 (2012-03-13) | 27 June 2013 (2013-06-27) | 1 year, 189 days |
| 37 | Bob Carr | Labor | Rudd | Minister for Foreign Affairs | 27 June 2013 (2013-06-27) | 18 September 2013 (2013-09-18) | 1 year, 189 days |
| 38 | Julie Bishop | Liberal | Abbott | Minister for Foreign Affairs | 18 September 2013 (2013-09-18) | 15 September 2015 (2015-09-15) | 4 years, 344 days |
| 38 | Julie Bishop | Liberal | Turnbull | Minister for Foreign Affairs | 15 September 2015 (2015-09-15) | 24 August 2018 (2018-08-24) | 4 years, 344 days |
| 38 | Julie Bishop | Liberal | Morrison | Minister for Foreign Affairs | 24 August 2018 (2018-08-24) | 28 August 2018 (2018-08-28) | 4 years, 344 days |
| 39 | Marise Payne | Liberal | Morrison | Minister for Foreign Affairs | 28 August 2018 (2018-08-28) | 23 May 2022 (2022-05-23) | 3 years, 268 days |
| 40 | Penny Wong | Labor | Albanese | Minister for Foreign Affairs | 23 May 2022 (2022-05-23) | Incumbent | 2 years, 221 days |
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 and the Pacific

The Minister for International Development was responsible, in the Rudd Cabinet, for the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) and the international development and humanitarian aid policies of the Commonwealth of Australia, administered through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). AusAID was abolished by the incoming prime minister, Tony Abbott, in September 2013 and under the operations of the Abbott Cabinet its functions were absorbed into DFAT.
The following individuals have been appointed as Minister for International Development and the Pacific, or any precedent title:
| Order | Minister | Party | Prime Minister | Ministerial title | Term start | Term end | Term in office |
| 1 | Bill Morrison | Labor | Whitlam | Minister assisting the Minister for Foreign Affairs in matters relating to Papua New Guinea | 30 November 1973 | 6 June 1975 | 1 year, 346 days |
| 1 | Bill Morrison | Labor | Whitlam | Minister assisting the Minister for Foreign Affairs in matters relating to the Islands of the Pacific | 6 June 1975 | 11 November 1975 | 1 year, 346 days |
| 2 | Neal Blewett | Labor | Hawke | Minister for Trade and Overseas Development | 1 February 1991 (1991-02-01) | 20 December 1991 (1991-12-20) | 329 days |
| 2 | Neal Blewett | Labor | Keating | Minister for Trade and Overseas Development | 20 December 1991 (1991-12-20) | 27 December 1991 (1991-12-27) | 329 days |
| 3 | John Kerin | Labor | Keating | Minister for Trade and Overseas Development | 27 December 1991 (1991-12-27) | 24 March 1993 (1993-03-24) | 1 year, 87 days |
| 4 | Gordon Bilney | Labor | Keating | Minister for Development Cooperation and Pacific Island Affairs | 24 March 1993 (1993-03-24) | 11 March 1996 (1996-03-11) | 2 years, 353 days |
| 5 | Melissa Parke | Labor | Rudd | Minister for International Development | 1 July 2013 (2013-07-01) | 18 September 2013 (2013-09-18) | 79 days |
| 6 | Steven Ciobo | Liberal | Turnbull | Minister for International Development and the Pacific | 21 September 2015 (2015-09-21) | 18 February 2016 (2016-02-18) | 150 days |
| 7 | Concetta Fierravanti-Wells | Liberal | Turnbull | Minister for International Development and the Pacific | 18 February 2016 (2016-02-18) | 21 August 2018 (2018-08-21) | 2 years, 184 days |
| 8 | Alex Hawke | Liberal | Morrison | Minister for International Development and the Pacific | 29 May 2019 (2019-05-29) | 22 December 2020 (2020-12-22) | 1 year, 207 days |
| 9 | Zed Seselja | Liberal | Morrison | Minister for International Development and the Pacific | 22 December 2020 (2020-12-22) | 23 May 2022 (2022-05-23) | 1 year, 152 days |
| 10 | Pat Conroy | Labor | Albanese | Minister for International Development and the Pacific | 1 June 2022 | Incumbent | 2 years, 212 days |

## 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 | 23 March 1960 (1960-03-23) | 18 December 1963 (1963-12-18) | 3 years, 270 days |
| 2 | Don Willesee | Labor | Whitlam | Minister assisting the Minister for Foreign Affairs | 19 December 1972 | 6 November 1973 | 322 days |
| 3 | Bill Morrison | Labor | Whitlam | Minister assisting the Minister for Foreign Affairs in matters relating to Papua New Guinea | 30 November 1973 | 6 June 1975 | 1 year, 346 days |
| 3 | Bill Morrison | Labor | Whitlam | Minister assisting the Minister for Foreign Affairs in matters relating to the Islands of the Pacific | 6 June 1975 | 11 November 1975 | 1 year, 346 days |
| 4 | Gareth Evans | Labor | Hawke | Minister assisting the Minister for Foreign Affairs | 13 December 1984 | 24 July 1987 | 2 years, 223 days |

## List of parliamentary secretaries and assistant ministers for 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 | 27 December 1991 (1991-12-27) | 24 March 1993 (1993-03-24) | 1 year, 87 days |
| 2 | Andrew Thomson | Liberal | Howard | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs | 11 March 1996 (1996-03-11) | 9 October 1997 (1997-10-09) | 1 year, 212 days |
| 3 | Kathy Sullivan | Liberal | Howard | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs | 9 October 1997 (1997-10-09) | 16 February 2000 (2000-02-16) | 2 years, 130 days |
| 4 | Kay Patterson | Liberal | Howard | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs | 16 February 2000 (2000-02-16) | 26 November 2001 (2001-11-26) | 1 year, 283 days |
| 5 | Chris Gallus | Liberal | Howard | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs | 26 November 2001 (2001-11-26) | 18 July 2004 (2004-07-18) | 2 years, 235 days |
| 6 | Bruce Billson | Liberal | Howard | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs | 18 July 2004 (2004-07-18) | 26 October 2004 (2004-10-26) | 1 year, 193 days |
| 6 | Bruce Billson | Liberal | Howard | Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Trade | 26 October 2004 (2004-10-26) | 6 July 2005 (2005-07-06) | 1 year, 193 days |
| 6 | Bruce Billson | Liberal | Howard | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs | 6 July 2005 (2005-07-06) | 27 January 2006 (2006-01-27) | 1 year, 193 days |
| 7 | Teresa Gambaro | Liberal | Howard | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs | 27 January 2006 (2006-01-27) | 30 January 2007 (2007-01-30) | 1 year, 3 days |
| 8 | Greg Hunt | Liberal | Howard | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs | 30 January 2007 (2007-01-30) | 3 December 2007 (2007-12-03) | 307 days |
| 9 | Richard Marles | Labor | Gillard | Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs | 5 March 2012 (2012-03-05) | 22 March 2013 (2013-03-22) | 362 days |
| 10 | Brett Mason | Liberal | Abbott | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs | 18 September 2013 (2013-09-18) | 23 December 2014 (2014-12-23) | 1 year, 96 days |
| 11 | Steven Ciobo | Liberal | Abbott | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs | 23 December 2014 (2014-12-23) | 21 September 2015 (2015-09-21) | 272 days |
| 12 | Tim Watts | Labor | Albanese | Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs | 1 June 2022 | Incumbent | 2 years, 212 days |

## List of parliamentary secretaries and assistant ministers for international development and the pacific

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 | Richard Marles | Labor | Gillard | Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs | 27 September 2009 (2009-09-27) | 22 March 2013 (2013-03-22) | 3 years, 176 days |
| 2 | Matt Thistlethwaite | Labor | Gillard | Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs | 22 March 2013 (2013-03-22) | 27 June 2013 (2013-06-27) | 180 days |
| 2 | Matt Thistlethwaite | Labor | Rudd | Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs | 22 June 2013 (2013-06-22) | 18 September 2013 (2013-09-18) | 180 days |
| 3 | Anne Ruston | Liberal | Morrison | Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific | 28 August 2018 (2018-08-28) | 29 May 2019 (2019-05-29) | 273 days |