# Minister for Veterans' Affairs

The Minister for Veterans' Affairs is an Australian Government position. In the Government of Australia, the minister oversees income support, compensation, care and commemoration programs for more than 400,000 veterans and their widows, widowers and dependants; and administers the portfolio through the Department of Veterans' Affairs. Since 2017 the office has been held in conjunction with the Minister for Defence Personnel

## Scope

The minister is also responsible for the following agencies:
* Australian War Memorial
* Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission
* Office of Australian War Graves
* Repatriation Commission
* Repatriation Medical Authority
* Review of Service Delivery Arrangements
* Specialist Medical Review Council
* Veterans' Review Board
* Vietnam Veterans Counselling Service

## List of ministers
### Veterans' affairs

The portfolio was created by Billy Hughes. It was called Minister for Repatriation from the appointment of the first Minister, Edward Millen on 28 September 1917 to deal with ex-soldiers returning from World War I. Stanley Bruce chose not to include a Minister for Repatriation in his ministry (1923–29), but his successor James Scullin restored it, and it has continued ever since, under different names. Gough Whitlam changed the portfolio title to Minister for Repatriation and Compensation in 1974; Malcolm Fraser restored it to its original title in 1975, and then changed it to Minister for Veterans' Affairs on 5 October 1976, Peter Durack being the last minister under the old title and the first under the new.
The following individuals have been appointed as Minister for Veterans' Affairs, or any of its precedent titles:
| Order | Minister | Party | Prime Minister | Title | Term start | Term end | Term in office |
| 1 | Edward Millen | Nationalist | Hughes | Minister for Repatriation | 28 September 1917 (1917-09-28) | 9 February 1923 (1923-02-09) | 5 years, 134 days |
| 2 | Frank Anstey | Labor | Scullin | Minister for Repatriation | 22 October 1929 (1929-10-22) | 3 March 1931 (1931-03-03) | 1 year, 132 days |
| 3 | John McNeill | Labor | Scullin | Minister for Repatriation | 3 March 1931 (1931-03-03) | 6 January 1932 (1932-01-06) | 309 days |
| 4 | Charles Hawker | United Australia | Lyons | Minister for Repatriation | 6 January 1932 (1932-01-06) | 12 April 1932 (1932-04-12) | 97 days |
| 5 | Charles Vukovich | United Australia | Lyons | Minister for Repatriation | 12 April 1932 (1932-04-12) | 12 October 1934 (1934-10-12) | 2 years, 183 days |
| 6 | Billy Hughes | United Australia | Lyons | Minister for Repatriation | 12 October 1934 (1934-10-12) | 6 November 1935 (1935-11-06) | 1 year, 25 days |
| 7 | Joseph Lyons | United Australia | Lyons | Minister for Repatriation | 8 November 1935 (1935-11-08) | 6 February 1936 (1936-02-06) | 90 days |
| n/a | Billy Hughes | United Australia | Lyons | Minister for Repatriation | 6 February 1936 (1936-02-06) | 29 November 1937 (1937-11-29) | 1 year, 296 days |
| 8 | Harry Foll | United Australia | Lyons | Minister for Repatriation | 29 November 1937 (1937-11-29) | 7 April 1939 (1939-04-07) | 1 year, 148 days |
| 8 | Harry Foll | United Australia | Page | Minister for Repatriation | 7 April 1939 (1939-04-07) | 26 April 1939 (1939-04-26) | 1 year, 148 days |
| 9 | Eric Harrison | United Australia | Menzies | Minister for Repatriation | 26 April 1939 (1939-04-26) | 14 March 1940 (1940-03-14) | 323 days |
| 10 | Geoffrey Street | United Australia | Menzies | Minister for Repatriation | 14 March 1940 (1940-03-14) | 13 August 1940 (1940-08-13) | 152 days |
| 11 | Philip McBride | United Australia | Menzies | Minister for Repatriation | 14 August 1940 (1940-08-14) | 28 October 1940 (1940-10-28) | 75 days |
| 12 | George McLeay | United Australia | Menzies | Minister for Repatriation | 28 October 1940 (1940-10-28) | 26 June 1941 (1941-06-26) | 241 days |
| 13 | Herbert Collett | United Australia | Menzies | Minister for Repatriation | 26 June 1941 (1941-06-26) | 29 August 1941 (1941-08-29) | 103 days |
| 13 | Herbert Collett | United Australia | Fadden | Minister for Repatriation | 29 August 1941 (1941-08-29) | 7 October 1941 (1941-10-07) | 103 days |
| 14 | Charles Frost | Labor | Curtin | Minister for Repatriation | 7 October 1941 (1941-10-07) | 6 July 1945 (1945-07-06) | 5 years, 25 days |
| 14 | Charles Frost | Labor | Forde | Minister for Repatriation | 6 July 1945 (1945-07-06) | 13 July 1945 (1945-07-13) | 5 years, 25 days |
| 14 | Charles Frost | Labor | Chifley | Minister for Repatriation | 13 July 1945 (1945-07-13) | 1 November 1946 (1946-11-01) | 5 years, 25 days |
| 15 | Claude Barnard | Labor | Chifley | Minister for Repatriation | 1 November 1946 (1946-11-01) | 19 December 1949 (1949-12-19) | 3 years, 48 days |
| 16 | Walter Cooper | Country | Menzies | Minister for Repatriation | 19 December 1949 (1949-12-19) | 29 December 1960 (1960-12-29) | 11 years, 10 days |
| 17 | Frederick Osborne | Liberal | Menzies | Minister for Repatriation | 29 December 1960 (1960-12-29) | 22 December 1961 (1961-12-22) | 358 days |
| 18 | Reginald Swartz | Liberal | Menzies | Minister for Repatriation | 22 December 1961 (1961-12-22) | 22 December 1964 (1964-12-22) | 3 years, 0 days |
| 19 | Colin McKellar | Country | Menzies | Minister for Repatriation | 22 December 1964 (1964-12-22) | 26 January 1966 (1966-01-26) | 4 years, 325 days |
| 19 | Colin McKellar | Country | Holt | Minister for Repatriation | 26 January 1966 (1966-01-26) | 19 December 1967 (1967-12-19) | 4 years, 325 days |
| 19 | Colin McKellar | Country | McEwen | Minister for Repatriation | 19 December 1967 (1967-12-19) | 10 January 1968 (1968-01-10) | 4 years, 325 days |
| 19 | Colin McKellar | Country | Gorton | Minister for Repatriation | 10 January 1968 (1968-01-10) | 12 November 1969 (1969-11-12) | 4 years, 325 days |
| 20 | Mac Holten | Country | Gorton | Minister for Repatriation | 12 November 1969 (1969-11-12) | 10 March 1971 (1971-03-10) | 3 years, 23 days |
| 20 | Mac Holten | Country | McMahon | Minister for Repatriation | 10 March 1971 (1971-03-10) | 5 December 1972 (1972-12-05) | 3 years, 23 days |
| 21 | Lance Barnard | Labor | Whitlam | Minister for Repatriation | 5 December 1972 (1972-12-05) | 19 December 1972 (1972-12-19) | 14 days |
| 22 | Reg Bishop | Labor | Whitlam | Minister for Repatriation | 19 December 1972 (1972-12-19) | 12 June 1974 (1974-06-12) | 1 year, 175 days |
| 23 | John Wheeldon | Labor | Whitlam | Minister for Repatriation and Compensation | 12 June 1974 (1974-06-12) | 11 November 1975 (1975-11-11) | 1 year, 152 days |
| 24 | Don Chipp | Liberal | Fraser | Minister for Repatriation and Compensation | 11 November 1975 (1975-11-11) | 22 December 1975 (1975-12-22) | 41 days |
| 25 | Kevin Newman | Liberal | Fraser | Minister for Repatriation | 22 December 1975 (1975-12-22) | 8 July 1976 (1976-07-08) | 199 days |
| 26 | Peter Durack | Liberal | Fraser | Minister for Repatriation | 8 July 1976 (1976-07-08) | 5 October 1976 (1976-10-05) | 1 year, 60 days |
| 26 | Peter Durack | Liberal | Fraser | Minister for Veterans' Affairs | 5 October 1976 (1976-10-05) | 6 September 1977 (1977-09-06) | 1 year, 60 days |
| 26 | Victor Garland | Liberal | Fraser | Minister for Veterans' Affairs | 6 September 1977 (1977-09-06) | 4 July 1978 (1978-07-04) | 301 days |
| 27 | Evan Adermann | Nationals | Fraser | Minister for Veterans' Affairs | 4 July 1978 (1978-07-04) | 3 November 1980 (1980-11-03) | 2 years, 122 days |
| 28 | Tony Messner | Liberal | Fraser | Minister for Veterans' Affairs | 3 November 1980 (1980-11-03) | 11 March 1983 (1983-03-11) | 2 years, 128 days |
| 29 | Arthur Gietzelt | Labor | Hawke | Minister for Veterans' Affairs | 11 March 1983 (1983-03-11) | 24 July 1987 (1987-07-24) | 4 years, 135 days |
| 30 | Ben Humphreys | Labor | Hawke | Minister for Veterans' Affairs | 24 July 1987 (1987-07-24) | 20 December 1991 (1991-12-20) | 5 years, 243 days |
| 30 | Ben Humphreys | Labor | Keating | Minister for Veterans' Affairs | 20 December 1991 (1991-12-20) | 24 March 1993 (1993-03-24) | 5 years, 243 days |
| 31 | John Faulkner | Labor | Keating | Minister for Veterans' Affairs | 24 March 1993 (1993-03-24) | 25 March 1994 (1994-03-25) | 1 year, 1 day |
| 32 | Con Sciacca | Labor | Keating | Minister for Veterans' Affairs | 25 March 1994 (1994-03-25) | 11 March 1996 (1996-03-11) | 1 year, 352 days |
| 33 | Bruce Scott | Nationals | Howard | Minister for Veterans' Affairs | 11 March 1996 (1996-03-11) | 26 November 2001 (2001-11-26) | 5 years, 260 days |
| 35 | Danna Vale | Liberal | Howard | Minister for Veterans' Affairs | 26 November 2001 (2001-11-26) | 26 October 2004 (2004-10-26) | 2 years, 335 days |
| 36 | De-Anne Kelly | Nationals | Howard | Minister for Veterans' Affairs | 26 October 2004 (2004-10-26) | 27 January 2006 (2006-01-27) | 1 year, 93 days |
| 37 | Bruce Billson | Liberal | Howard | Minister for Veterans' Affairs | 27 January 2006 (2006-01-27) | 3 December 2007 (2007-12-03) | 1 year, 310 days |
| 38 | Alan Griffin | Labor | Rudd | Minister for Veterans' Affairs | 3 December 2007 (2007-12-03) | 24 June 2010 (2010-06-24) | 2 years, 284 days |
| 38 | Alan Griffin | Labor | Gillard | Minister for Veterans' Affairs | 24 June 2010 (2010-06-24) | 13 September 2010 (2010-09-13) | 2 years, 284 days |
| 39 | Warren Snowdon | Labor | Gillard | Minister for Veterans' Affairs | 13 September 2010 (2010-09-13) | 1 July 2013 (2013-07-01) | 3 years, 5 days |
| 39 | Warren Snowdon | Labor | Rudd | Minister for Veterans' Affairs | 1 July 2013 (2013-07-01) | 18 September 2013 (2013-09-18) | 3 years, 5 days |
| 40 | Michael Ronaldson | Liberal | Abbott | Minister for Veterans' Affairs | 18 September 2013 (2013-09-18) | 15 September 2015 | 2 years, 3 days |
| 40 | Michael Ronaldson | Liberal | Turnbull | Minister for Veterans' Affairs | 15 September 2015 | 21 September 2015 | 2 years, 3 days |
| 41 | Stuart Robert | Liberal | Turnbull | Minister for Veterans' Affairs | 21 September 2015 (2015-09-21) | 18 February 2016 | 150 days |
| 42 | Dan Tehan | Liberal | Turnbull | Minister for Veterans' Affairs | 18 February 2016 (2016-02-18) | 20 December 2017 (2017-12-20) | 1 year, 305 days |
| 43 | Michael McCormack | Nationals | Turnbull | Minister for Veterans' Affairs | 20 December 2017 (2017-12-20) | 5 March 2018 (2018-03-05) | 68 days |
| 44 | Darren Chester | Nationals | Turnbull | Minister for Veterans' Affairs | 5 March 2018 (2018-03-05) | 28 August 2018 (2018-08-28) | 3 years, 119 days |
| 44 | Darren Chester | Nationals | Morrison | Minister for Veterans' Affairs | 28 August 2018 (2018-08-28) | 2 July 2021 (2021-07-02) | 3 years, 119 days |
| 45 | Andrew Gee | Nationals | Morrison | Minister for Veterans' Affairs | 2 July 2021 (2021-07-02) | 23 May 2022 (2022-05-23) | 325 days |
| 46 | Matt Keogh | Labor | Albanese | Minister for Veterans' Affairs | 1 June 2022 (2022-06-01) | Incumbent | 2 years, 237 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.
    Malcolm Fraser initially chose Senator Glen Sheil for the portfolio, and he was sworn in as a member of the Federal Executive Council. But before he was sworn in as a minister, Sheil professed his support for the South African apartheid regime, which was very much at odds with the Fraser government's position. Fraser decided not to proceed with Sheil’s appointment to the Ministry, and his appointment as an Executive Councillor was terminated. Garland was appointed in his place.

### Assisting the prime minister for the centenary of ANZAC

| Order | Minister | Party | Prime Minister | Title | Term start | Term end | Term in office |
| 1 | Warren Snowdon | Labor | Gillard | Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on the Centenary of ANZAC | 3 March 2011 | 27 June 2013 | 2 years, 199 days |
| 1 | Warren Snowdon | Labor | Rudd | Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on the Centenary of ANZAC | 27 June 2013 | 18 September 2013 | 2 years, 199 days |
| 2 | Michael Ronaldson | Liberal | Abbott | Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on the Centenary of ANZAC | 18 September 2013 | 15 September 2015 | 2 years, 3 days |
| 2 | Michael Ronaldson | Liberal | Turnbull | Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on the Centenary of ANZAC | 15 September 2015 | 21 September 2015 | 2 years, 3 days |
| 3 | Stuart Robert | Liberal | Turnbull | Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on the Centenary of ANZAC | 21 September 2015 (2015-09-21) | 18 February 2016 (2016-02-18) | 150 days |
| 4 | Dan Tehan | Liberal | Turnbull | Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on the Centenary of ANZAC | 18 February 2016 (2016-02-18) | 20 December 2017 (2017-12-20) | 1 year, 305 days |
| 5 | Michael McCormack | National | Turnbull | Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on the Centenary of ANZAC | 20 December 2017 (2017-12-20) | 5 March 2018 (2018-03-05) | 75 days |
| 6 | Darren Chester | National | Turnbull | Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on the Centenary of ANZAC | 5 March 2018 (2018-03-05) | 28 August 2018 (2018-08-28) | 1 year, 85 days |
| 6 | Darren Chester | National | Morrison | Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on the Centenary of ANZAC | 28 August 2018 (2018-08-28) | 29 May 2019 (2019-05-29) | 1 year, 85 days |

### War service homes

Between 1932 and 1938 there was also a Minister in charge of War Service Homes, responsible for the War Service Homes Scheme. This position was revived with Herbert Collett's appointment as Minister without portfolio administering War Service Homes in 1939, but was subsumed by Bert Lazzarini's appointment as Minister for Works and Housing in 1945.
The following individuals have been appointed as Minister in charge of War Service Homes, or any of its precedent titles:
| Order | Minister | Party | Prime Minister | Title | Term start | Term end | Term in office |
| 1 | Josiah Francis | United Australia | Lyons | Minister in charge of War Service Homes | 6 January 1932 (1932-01-06) | 9 November 1934 (1934-11-09) | 2 years, 307 days |
| 2 | Harold Thorby | Country | Lyons | Minister without portfolio in charge of War Service Homes | 9 November 1934 (1934-11-09) | 11 September 1936 (1936-09-11) | 1 year, 307 days |
| 3 | James Hunter | Country | Lyons | Minister without portfolio in charge of War Service Homes | 11 September 1936 (1936-09-11) | 29 November 1937 (1937-11-29) | 1 year, 79 days |
| 4 | Harry Foll | United Australia | Lyons | Minister in charge of War Service Homes | 29 November 1937 (1937-11-29) | 7 November 1938 (1938-11-07) | 343 days |
| 5 | Herbert Collett | United Australia | Menzies | Minister without portfolio administering War Service Homes | 26 April 1939 (1939-04-26) | 14 March 1940 (1940-03-14) | 2 years, 61 days |
| 5 | Herbert Collett | United Australia | Menzies | Minister without portfolio in charge of War Service Homes | 14 March 1940 (1940-03-14) | 13 August 1940 (1940-08-13) | 2 years, 61 days |
| 5 | Herbert Collett | United Australia | Menzies | Minister in charge of War Service Homes | 14 August 1940 (1940-08-14) | 28 October 1940 (1940-10-28) | 2 years, 61 days |
| 5 | Herbert Collett | United Australia | Menzies | Minister without portfolio administering War Service Homes | 28 October 1940 (1940-10-28) | 26 June 1941 (1941-06-26) | 2 years, 61 days |
| 6 | Charles Frost | Labor | Curtin | Minister in charge of War Service Homes | 7 October 1941 (1941-10-07) | 6 July 1945 (1945-07-06) | 3 years, 279 days |
| 6 | Charles Frost | Labor | Forde | Minister in charge of War Service Homes | 6 July 1945 (1945-07-06) | 13 July 1945 (1945-07-13) | 3 years, 279 days |

## List of assistant ministers

| Order | Minister | Party | Party | Prime Minister | Title | Term start | Term end | Term in office |
| 1 | Matt Thistlethwaite | | Labor | Albanese | Assistant Minister for the Veterans' Affairs | 1 June 2022 (2022-06-01) | Incumbent | 2 years, 237 days |