Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations

Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
Commonwealth Coat of Arms
Flag of Australia
Incumbent
Murray Watt
since 29 July 2024 (2024-07-29)
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
StyleThe Honourable
AppointerGovernor-General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister of Australia
Inaugural holderHarold Holt (as Minister for Labour and National Service)
Formation28 October 1940 (1940-10-28)
Websiteministers.dewr.gov.au/senator-hon-murray-watt

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,:[1]

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:[2]

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
Fadden 29 August 1941 (1941-08-29) 7 October 1941 (1941-10-07)
2 Eddie Ward Labor Curtin 7 October 1941 (1941-10-07) 21 September 1943 (1943-09-21) 1 year, 349 days
3 Jack Holloway 21 September 1943 (1943-09-21) 6 July 1945 (1945-07-06) 6 years, 89 days
Forde 6 July 1945 (1945-07-06) 13 July 1945 (1945-07-13)
Chifley 13 July 1945 (1945-07-13) 19 December 1949 (1949-12-19)
(1) Harold Holt Liberal Menzies 19 December 1949 (1949-12-19) 10 December 1958 (1958-12-10) 8 years, 356 days
4 William McMahon 10 December 1958 (1958-12-10) 26 January 1966 (1966-01-26) 7 years, 47 days
5 Les Bury Holt 26 January 1966 (1966-01-26) 19 December 1967 (1967-12-19) 3 years, 290 days
McEwen 19 December 1967 (1967-12-19) 10 January 1968 (1968-01-10)
Gorton 10 January 1968 (1968-01-10) 12 November 1969 (1969-11-12)
6 Billy Snedden 12 November 1969 (1969-11-12) 10 March 1971 (1971-03-10) 1 year, 130 days
McMahon 10 March 1971 (1971-03-10) 22 March 1971 (1971-03-22)
7 Phillip Lynch 22 March 1971 (1971-03-22) 5 December 1972 (1972-12-05) 1 year, 258 days
8 Lance Barnard1 Labor Whitlam 5 December 1972 (1972-12-05) 19 December 1972 (1972-12-19) 14 days
9 Clyde Cameron Minister for Labour 19 December 1972 (1972-12-19) 12 June 1974 (1974-06-12) 2 years, 169 days
Minister for Labour and Immigration 12 June 1974 (1974-06-12) 6 June 1975 (1975-06-06)
10 Jim McClelland 6 June 1975 (1975-06-06) 11 November 1975 (1975-11-11) 158 days
11 Tony Street Liberal Fraser 11 November 1975 (1975-11-11) 22 December 1975 (1975-12-22) 3 years, 24 days
Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations 22 December 1975 (1975-12-22) 5 December 1978 (1978-12-05)
12 Ian Viner 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 6 April 1981 (1981-04-06) 7 May 1982 (1982-05-07) 1 year, 31 days
14 Ian Macphee 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 11 March 1983 (1983-03-11) 24 July 1987 (1987-07-24) 4 years, 135 days
16 John Dawkins Minister for Employment, Education and Training 24 July 1987 (1987-07-24) 20 December 1991 (1991-12-20) 4 years, 156 days
Keating 20 December 1991 (1991-12-20) 27 December 1991 (1991-12-27)
17 Kim Beazley 27 December 1991 (1991-12-27) 23 December 1993 (1993-12-23) 1 year, 361 days
18 Simon Crean 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 9 October 1997 (1997-10-09) 21 October 1998 (1998-10-21) 1 year, 12 days
21 Peter Reith 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 30 January 2001 (2001-01-30) 26 November 2001 (2001-11-26) 2 years, 250 days
Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations 26 November 2001 (2001-11-26) 7 October 2003 (2003-10-07)
23 Kevin Andrews 7 October 2003 (2003-10-07) 30 January 2007 (2007-01-30) 3 years, 115 days
24 Joe Hockey 30 January 2007 (2007-01-30) 3 December 2007 (2007-12-03) 307 days
25 Julia Gillard Labor Rudd 3 December 2007 (2007-12-03) 24 June 2010 2 years, 207 days
Gillard 24 June 2010 28 June 2010
(18) Simon Crean 28 June 2010 (2010-06-28) 14 September 2010 (2010-09-14) 78 days
26 Chris Evans Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations[3] 14 September 2010 (2010-09-14) 14 December 2011 (2011-12-14) 1 year, 91 days
27 Bill Shorten 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 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
Turnbull 15 September 2015 (2015-09-15) 21 September 2015 (2015-09-21)
30 Michaelia Cash 21 September 2015 (2015-09-21) 20 December 2017 (2017-12-20) 2 years, 341 days
Minister for Jobs and Innovation 20 December 2017 (2017-12-20) 28 August 2018 (2018-08-28)
31 Kelly O'Dwyer Morrison Minister for Jobs and Industrial Relations 28 August 2018 (2018-08-28) 11 April 2019 (2019-04-11) 226 days
(30) Michaelia Cash 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 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 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 29 July 2024 (2024-07-29) Incumbent 143 days

Notes

1 Barnard was part of a two-man ministry that comprised Barnard and Gough Whitlam for fourteen days until the full ministry was commissioned.
2 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:[2]

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
Minister for Industrial Relations 5 December 1978 (1978-12-05) 3 November 1980 (1980-11-03)
2 Andrew Peacock 3 November 1980 (1980-11-03) 16 April 1981 (1981-04-16) 164 days
3 Ian Viner 16 April 1981 (1981-04-16) 7 May 1982 (1982-05-07) 1 year, 21 days
4 Ian Macphee 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 11 March 1983 (1983-03-11) 24 July 1987 (1987-07-24) 5 years, 175 days
Minister for Industrial Relations 24 July 1987 (1987-07-24) 2 September 1988 (1988-09-02)
6 Peter Morris 2 September 1988 (1988-09-02) 4 April 1990 (1990-04-04) 1 year, 214 days
7 Peter Cook 4 April 1990 (1990-04-04) 20 December 1991 (1991-12-20) 2 years, 354 days
Keating 20 December 1991 (1991-12-20) 24 March 1993 (1993-03-24)
8 Laurie Brereton 24 March 1993 (1993-03-24) 11 March 1996 (1996-03-11) 2 years, 353 days
9 Peter Reith Liberal Howard 11 March 1996 (1996-03-11) 18 July 1997 (1997-07-18) 5 years, 211 days
Minister for Workplace Relations and Small Business 18 July 1997 (1997-07-18) 21 October 1998 (1998-10-21)
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 30 January 2001 (2001-01-30) 26 November 2001 (2001-11-26) 2 years, 250 days
Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations 26 November 2001 (2001-11-26) 7 October 2003 (2003-10-07)
11 Kevin Andrews 7 October 2003 (2003-10-07) 30 January 2007 (2007-01-30) 3 years, 115 days
12 Joe Hockey 30 January 2007 (2007-01-30) 3 December 2007 (2007-12-03) 307 days
13 Julia Gillard Labor Rudd 3 December 2007 (2007-12-03) 24 June 2010 2 years, 207 days
Gillard 24 June 2010 28 June 2010
14 Simon Crean 28 June 2010 (2010-06-28) 14 September 2010 (2010-09-14) 78 days
15 Chris Evans 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 Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations 14 December 2011 (2011-12-14) 1 July 2013 (2013-07-01) 1 year, 278 days
Rudd Minister for Workplace Relations 1 July 2013 (2013-07-01) 18 September 2013 (2013-09-18)
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 Minister for Industrial Relations 29 May 2019 (2019-05-29) 30 March 2021 (2021-03-30) 1 year, 305 days
19 Michaelia Cash 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 29 July 2024 (2024-07-29) Incumbent 143 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:[2]

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 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 4 April 1990 (1990-04-04) 7 May 1990 (1990-05-07) 2 years, 354 days
Keating Minister for Higher Education and Employment Services 7 May 1990 (1990-05-07) 20 December 1991 (1991-12-20)
20 December 1991 (1991-12-20) 24 March 1993 (1993-03-24)
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 14 February 2001 (2001-02-14) 18 July 2004 (2004-07-18) 3 years, 155 days
6 Fran Bailey 18 July 2004 (2004-07-18) 26 October 2004 (2004-10-26) 100 days
7 Peter Dutton Minister for Workforce Participation 26 October 2004 (2004-10-26) 27 January 2006 (2006-01-27) 1 year, 93 days
8 Sharman Stone 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 9 June 2009 (2009-06-09) 28 June 2010 (2010-06-28) 1 year, 97 days
Gillard 28 June 2010 (2010-06-28) 14 September 2010 (2010-09-14)
11 Kate Ellis Minister for Employment Participation and Childcare 14 September 2010 (2010-09-14) 14 December 2011 (2011-12-14) 3 years, 4 days
Minister for Employment Participation 14 December 2011 (2011-12-14) 1 July 2013 (2013-07-01)
Rudd 1 July 2013 (2013-07-01) 18 September 2013 (2013-09-18)
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
Turnbull 15 September 2015 (2015-09-15) 21 September 2015 (2015-09-21)

List of assistant ministers

The following individuals have been appointed as Assistant Minister for Science, Jobs and Innovation, or any of its precedent titles:[2]

Order Minister 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, 202 days

References

  1. ^ "Portfolio". Attorney-General for Australia, Minister for Industrial Relations. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d "Ministries and Cabinets". 43rd Parliamentary Handbook: Historical information on the Australian Parliament. Parliament of Australia. 2010. Archived from the original on 13 August 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  3. ^ "Julia Gillard bows to unis, adds Tertiary Education to Chris Evans' title". The Australian. 14 September 2010.