# Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs

The Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs is a ministerial post of the Australian Government and is currently held by Tony Burke since July 2024 in the Albanese ministry.
The post was created in 1945 and its inaugural officeholder was Arthur Calwell as the Minister for Immigration. On 20 December 2017, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull introduced a new major portfolio responsible for national security: Home Affairs. The Hon Peter Dutton MP retained the duties of Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, with additional responsibilities awarded as the Minister for Home Affairs. Following the appointment of Prime Minister Scott Morrison in August 2018, Morrison re-appointed Peter Dutton to the Home Affairs Ministry, previously introduced to the 'super-Ministry' under the Turnbull government in December 2017, and appointed David Coleman as Immigration Minister.

## Scope

The portfolio and department were created in July 1945, during the last months of World War II. Previously, immigration affairs were handled by the Minister for Home Affairs (1901–1932) and the Minister for the Interior (1932–1945), except that between January 1925 and January 1928 Victor Wilson and Thomas Paterson were Ministers for Markets and Migration.
The Minister for Immigration, Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship was usually one of the senior members of Cabinet, although between the Tenth Menzies Ministry and the Third Fraser Ministry, the post was downgraded to that of a junior minister. The minister and department have on several occasions been responsible for another portfolio in addition to immigration, such as ethnic/multicultural affairs, local government or border protection.

## List of ministers for immigration

The following individuals have held responsibility for immigration:
| Order | Minister | Party | Prime Minister | Title | Term start | Term end | Term in office |
| 1 | Arthur Calwell | Labor | Chifley | Minister for Immigration | 13 July 1945 (1945-07-13) | 19 December 1949 (1949-12-19) | 4 years, 159 days |
| 2 | Harold Holt | Liberal | Menzies | Minister for Immigration | 19 December 1949 (1949-12-19) | 24 October 1956 (1956-10-24) | 6 years, 310 days |
| 3 | Athol Townley | Liberal | Menzies | Minister for Immigration | 24 October 1956 (1956-10-24) | 19 March 1958 (1958-03-19) | 1 year, 146 days |
| 4 | Alick Downer | Liberal | Menzies | Minister for Immigration | 19 March 1958 (1958-03-19) | 18 December 1963 (1963-12-18) | 5 years, 274 days |
| 5 | Hubert Opperman | Liberal | Menzies | Minister for Immigration | 18 December 1963 (1963-12-18) | 26 January 1966 (1966-01-26) | 2 years, 361 days |
| 5 | Hubert Opperman | Liberal | Holt | Minister for Immigration | 26 January 1966 (1966-01-26) | 14 December 1966 (1966-12-14) | 2 years, 361 days |
| 6 | Billy Snedden | Liberal | Holt | Minister for Immigration | 14 December 1966 (1966-12-14) | 19 December 1967 (1967-12-19) | 2 years, 333 days |
| 6 | Billy Snedden | Liberal | McEwen | Minister for Immigration | 19 December 1967 (1967-12-19) | 10 January 1968 (1968-01-10) | 2 years, 333 days |
| 6 | Billy Snedden | Liberal | Gorton | Minister for Immigration | 10 January 1968 (1968-01-10) | 12 November 1969 (1969-11-12) | 2 years, 333 days |
| 7 | Phillip Lynch | Liberal | McMahon | Minister for Immigration | 12 November 1969 (1969-11-12) | 22 March 1971 (1971-03-22) | 1 year, 130 days |
| 8 | Jim Forbes | Liberal | McMahon | Minister for Immigration | 22 March 1971 (1971-03-22) | 5 December 1972 (1972-12-05) | 1 year, 258 days |
| 9 | Lance Barnard | Labor | Whitlam | Minister for Immigration | 5 December 1972 (1972-12-05) | 19 December 1972 (1972-12-19) | 14 days |
| 10 | Al Grassby | Labor | Whitlam | Minister for Immigration | 19 December 1972 (1972-12-19) | 12 June 1974 (1974-06-12) | 1 year, 175 days |
| 11 | Clyde Cameron | Labor | Whitlam | Minister for Labour and Immigration | 12 June 1974 (1974-06-12) | 6 June 1975 (1975-06-06) | 359 days |
| 12 | Jim McClelland | Labor | Whitlam | Minister for Labour and Immigration | 6 June 1975 (1975-06-06) | 11 November 1975 (1975-11-11) | 158 days |
| 13 | Tony Street | Liberal | Fraser | Minister for Labour and Immigration | 12 November 1975 (1975-11-12) | 22 December 1975 (1975-12-22) | 40 days |
| 14 | Michael MacKellar | Liberal | Fraser | Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs | 22 December 1975 (1975-12-22) | 8 December 1979 (1979-12-08) | 3 years, 351 days |
| 15 | Ian Macphee | Liberal | Fraser | Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs | 8 December 1979 (1979-12-08) | 7 May 1982 (1982-05-07) | 2 years, 150 days |
| 16 | John Hodges | Liberal | Fraser | Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs | 7 May 1982 (1982-05-07) | 11 March 1983 (1983-03-11) | 308 days |
| 17 | Stewart West | Labor | Hawke | Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs | 11 March 1983 (1983-03-11) | 13 December 1984 (1984-12-13) | 1 year, 277 days |
| 18 | Chris Hurford | Labor | Hawke | Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs | 13 December 1984 (1984-12-13) | 16 February 1987 (1987-02-16) | 2 years, 65 days |
| 19 | Mick Young | Labor | Hawke | Minister for Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs | 16 February 1987 (1987-02-16) | 12 February 1988 (1988-02-12) | 361 days |
| 20 | Clyde Holding | Labor | Hawke | Minister for Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs | 12 February 1988 (1988-02-12) | 2 September 1988 (1988-09-02) | 203 days |
| 21 | Robert Ray | Labor | Hawke | Minister for Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs | 2 September 1988 (1988-09-02) | 4 April 1990 (1990-04-04) | 1 year, 214 days |
| 22 | Gerry Hand | Labor | Hawke | Minister for Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs | 4 April 1990 (1990-04-04) | 20 December 1991 (1991-12-20) | 2 years, 354 days |
| 22 | Gerry Hand | Labor | Keating | Minister for Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs | 20 December 1991 (1991-12-20) | 24 March 1993 (1993-03-24) | 2 years, 354 days |
| 23 | Nick Bolkus | Labor | Keating | Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs | 24 March 1993 (1993-03-24) | 11 March 1996 (1996-03-11) | 2 years, 353 days |
| 24 | Philip Ruddock | Liberal | Howard | Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs | 11 March 1996 (1996-03-11) | 26 November 2001 (2001-11-26) | 7 years, 210 days |
| 24 | Philip Ruddock | Liberal | Howard | Minister for Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | 26 November 2001 (2001-11-26) | 7 October 2003 (2003-10-07) | 7 years, 210 days |
| 25 | Amanda Vanstone | Liberal | Howard | Minister for Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | 7 October 2003 (2003-10-07) | 27 January 2006 (2006-01-27) | 3 years, 115 days |
| 25 | Amanda Vanstone | Liberal | Howard | Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs | 27 January 2006 (2006-01-27) | 30 January 2007 (2007-01-30) | 3 years, 115 days |
| 26 | Kevin Andrews | Liberal | Howard | Minister for Immigration and Citizenship | 30 January 2007 (2007-01-30) | 3 December 2007 (2007-12-03) | 307 days |
| 27 | Chris Evans | Labor | Rudd | Minister for Immigration and Citizenship | 3 December 2007 (2007-12-03) | 24 June 2010 (2010-06-24) | 2 years, 285 days |
| 27 | Chris Evans | Labor | Gillard | Minister for Immigration and Citizenship | 24 June 2010 (2010-06-24) | 14 September 2010 (2010-09-14) | 2 years, 285 days |
| 28 | Chris Bowen | Labor | Gillard | Minister for Immigration and Citizenship | 14 September 2010 (2010-09-14) | 4 February 2013 (2013-02-04) | 2 years, 143 days |
| 29 | Brendan O'Connor | Labor | Gillard | Minister for Immigration and Citizenship | 4 February 2013 (2013-02-04) | 1 July 2013 (2013-07-01) | 147 days |
| 30 | Tony Burke | Labor | Rudd | Minister for Immigration, Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship | 1 July 2013 (2013-07-01) | 18 September 2013 (2013-09-18) | 79 days |
| 31 | Scott Morrison | Liberal | Abbott | Minister for Immigration and Border Protection | 18 September 2013 (2013-09-18) | 23 December 2014 (2014-12-23) | 1 year, 96 days |
| 32 | Peter Dutton | Liberal | Abbott | Minister for Immigration and Border Protection | 23 December 2014 (2014-12-23) | 15 September 2015 (2015-09-15) | 3 years, 241 days |
| 32 | Peter Dutton | Liberal | Turnbull | Minister for Immigration and Border Protection | 15 September 2015 (2015-09-15) | 21 August 2018 (2018-08-21) | 3 years, 241 days |
| 33 | David Coleman | Liberal | Morrison | Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs | 28 August 2018 (2018-08-28) | 29 May 2019 (2019-05-29) | 1 year, 107 days |
| 33 | David Coleman | Liberal | Morrison | Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs | 29 May 2019 (2019-05-29) | 13 December 2019 (2019-12-13) | 1 year, 107 days |
| (acting) | Alan Tudge | Liberal | Morrison | Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs | 13 December 2019 (2019-12-13) | 22 December 2020 (2020-12-22) | 1 year, 9 days |
| 34 | Alex Hawke | Liberal | Morrison | Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs | 22 December 2020 (2020-12-22) | 23 May 2022 (2022-05-23) | 1 year, 152 days |
| 35 | Andrew Giles | Labor | Albanese | Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs | 1 June 2022 (2022-06-01) | 29 July 2024 (2024-07-29) | 2 years, 58 days |
| (30) | Tony Burke | Labor | Albanese | Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs | 29 July 2024 (2024-07-29) | incumbent | 212 days |
Notes
    Barnard was one of a two-man ministry consisting of himself and Gough Whitlam for two weeks until the full ministry was announced.

## List of ministers for citizenship and multicultural affairs

On 24 July 1987 (1987-07-24) the third Hawke ministry implemented a two-level ministerial structure, with distinctions drawn between senior and junior ministers. This arrangement has been continued by subsequent governments; although there has not always been a junior minister in the immigration portfolio. Senior ministers are shown above. Junior ministers are shown below. The following individuals have held responsibility for citizenship and multicultural affairs or any precedent titles:
| Order | Minister | Party affiliation | Prime Minister | Ministerial title | Term start | Term end | Term in office |
| 1 | Clyde Holding | Labor | Hawke | Minister Assisting the Minister for Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs | 2 September 1988 (1988-09-02) | 4 April 1990 (1990-04-04) | 1 year, 214 days |
| 2 | Gary Hardgrave | Liberal | Howard | Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs | 26 November 2001 (2001-11-26) | 26 October 2004 (2004-10-26) | 2 years, 335 days |
| 3 | Peter McGauran | National | Howard | Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs | 26 October 2004 (2004-10-26) | 6 July 2005 (2005-07-06) | 253 days |
| 4 | John Cobb | National | Howard | Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs | 6 July 2005 (2005-07-06) | 27 January 2006 (2006-01-27) | 205 days |
| 5 | Kate Lundy | Labor | Gillard | Minister for Multicultural Affairs | 5 March 2012 (2012-03-05) | 27 June 2013 (2013-06-27) | 1 year, 197 days |
| 5 | Kate Lundy | Labor | Rudd | Minister for Multicultural Affairs | 27 June 2013 (2013-06-27) | 18 September 2013 (2013-09-18) | 1 year, 197 days |
| 6 | Alan Tudge | Liberal | Turnbull | Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs | 20 December 2017 (2017-12-20) | 23 August 2018 (2018-08-23) | 246 days |
| 7 | David Coleman | Liberal | Morrison | Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs | 28 August 2018 (2018-08-28) | 29 May 2019 (2019-05-29) | 1 year, 107 days |
| 7 | David Coleman | Liberal | Morrison | Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs | 29 May 2019 (2019-05-29) | 13 December 2019 (2019-12-13) | 1 year, 107 days |
| (acting) | Alan Tudge | Liberal | Morrison | Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs | 13 December 2019 (2019-12-13) | 22 December 2020 (2020-12-22) | 1 year, 9 days |
| 8 | Alex Hawke | Liberal | Morrison | Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs | 22 December 2020 (2020-12-22) | 23 May 2022 (2022-05-23) | 1 year, 152 days |
| 9 | Andrew Giles | Labor | Albanese | Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs | 1 June 2022 (2022-06-01) | 29 July 2024 (2024-07-29) | 2 years, 58 days |
| 10 | Tony Burke | Labor | Albanese | Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs | 29 July 2024 (2024-07-29) | incumbent | 212 days |

## Assistant ministers
### Assistant ministers for immigration

The following individuals served as the Assistant Minister for Immigration, or any precedent titles:
| Order | Minister | Party affiliation | Prime Minister | Ministerial title | Term start | Term end | Term in office |
| 1 | Teresa Gambaro | Liberal | Howard | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship | 30 January 2007 (2007-01-30) | 21 March 2007 (2007-03-21) | 307 days |
| 1 | Teresa Gambaro | Liberal | Howard | Assistant Minister for Immigration and Citizenship | 21 March 2007 (2007-03-21) | 3 December 2007 (2007-12-03) | 307 days |
| 2 | Laurie Ferguson | Labor | Rudd | Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs and Settlement Services | 3 December 2007 (2007-12-03) | 14 September 2010 (2010-09-14) | 2 years, 285 days |
| 2 | Laurie Ferguson | Labor | Gillard | Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs and Settlement Services | 3 December 2007 (2007-12-03) | 14 September 2010 (2010-09-14) | 2 years, 285 days |
| 3 | Kate Lundy | Labor | Gillard | Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration and Citizenship | 14 September 2010 (2010-09-14) | 16 February 2011 (2011-02-16) | 1 year, 173 days |
| 3 | Kate Lundy | Labor | Gillard | Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs | 16 February 2011 (2011-02-16) | 5 March 2012 (2012-03-05) | 1 year, 173 days |
| 4 | Michaelia Cash | Liberal | Abbott | Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection | 18 September 2013 (2013-09-18) | 15 September 2015 (2015-09-15) | 2 years, 3 days |
| 4 | Michaelia Cash | Liberal | Turnbull | Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection | 15 September 2015 (2015-09-15) | 21 September 2015 | 2 years, 3 days |
| 5 | James McGrath | Liberal | Turnbull | Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection | 18 February 2016 (2016-02-18) | 18 July 2016 (2016-07-18) | 151 days |
| 6 | Alex Hawke | Liberal | Turnbull | Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection | 19 July 2016 (2016-07-19) | 20 December 2017 (2017-12-20) | 1 year, 154 days |
| 7 | Matt Thistlethwaite | Labor | Albanese | Assistant Minister for Immigration | 29 July 2024 (2024-07-29) | incumbent | 212 days |

### Assistant ministers for citizenship and multicultural affairs

The following individuals served as the Assistant Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, or any precedent titles:
| Order | Minister | Party affiliation | Prime Minister | Ministerial title | Term start | Term end | Term in office |
| 1 | Teresa Gambaro | Liberal | Howard | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship | 30 January 2007 (2007-01-30) | 21 March 2007 (2007-03-21) | 307 days |
| 1 | Teresa Gambaro | Liberal | Howard | Assistant Minister for Immigration and Citizenship | 21 March 2007 (2007-03-21) | 3 December 2007 (2007-12-03) | 307 days |
| 2 | Laurie Ferguson | Labor | Rudd | Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs and Settlement Services | 3 December 2007 (2007-12-03) | 14 September 2010 (2010-09-14) | 2 years, 285 days |
| 2 | Laurie Ferguson | Labor | Gillard | Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs and Settlement Services | 3 December 2007 (2007-12-03) | 14 September 2010 (2010-09-14) | 2 years, 285 days |
| 3 | Kate Lundy | Labor | Gillard | Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration and Citizenship | 14 September 2010 (2010-09-14) | 16 February 2011 (2011-02-16) | 1 year, 173 days |
| 3 | Kate Lundy | Labor | Gillard | Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs | 16 February 2011 (2011-02-16) | 5 March 2012 (2012-03-05) | 1 year, 173 days |
| 4 | Matt Thistlethwaite | Labor | Gillard | Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs | 25 March 2013 (2013-03-25) | 18 September 2013 (2013-09-18) | 177 days |
| 4 | Matt Thistlethwaite | Labor | Rudd | Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs | 25 March 2013 (2013-03-25) | 18 September 2013 (2013-09-18) | 177 days |
| 5 | Concetta Fierravanti-Wells | Liberal | Turnbull | Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs | 21 September 2015 (2015-09-21) | 18 February 2016 (2016-02-18) | 150 days |
| 6 | Craig Laundy | Liberal | Turnbull | Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs | 18 February 2016 (2016-02-18) | 18 July 2016 (2016-07-18) | 151 days |
| 7 | Zed Seselja | Liberal | Turnbull | Assistant Minister for Social Services and Multicultural Affairs | 18 July 2016 (2016-07-18) | 20 December 2017 (2017-12-20) | 1 year, 155 days |
| 8 | Jason Wood | Liberal | Morrison | Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety and Multicultural Affairs | 29 May 2019 (2019-05-29) | 22 May 2022 (2022-05-22) | 2 years, 358 days |
| 9 | Julian Hill | Labor | Albanese | Assistant Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs | 29 July 2024 (2024-07-29) | incumbent | 212 days |