| Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations | |
|---|---|
 Commonwealth Coat of Arms | |
.svg) Flag of Australia | |
 IncumbentMurray Watt since 29 July 2024 (2024-07-29) | |
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | |
| Style | The Honourable |
| Appointer | Governor-General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister of Australia |
| Inaugural holder | Harold Holt (as Minister for Labour and National Service) |
| Formation | 28 October 1940 (1940-10-28) |
| Website | ministers |
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,:
- Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency
- Australian Building and Construction Commission (abolished in 2023)
- Comcare
- Fair Work Commission
- Fair Work Ombudsman
- Registered Organisations Commission
- Safe Work Australia
- Workplace Gender Equality Agency
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:
| 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 Barnard | 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 | 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 | 152 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.
- 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:
| 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 | 152 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:
| 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:
| 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, 211 days | |
References
- "Portfolio". Attorney-General for Australia, Minister for Industrial Relations. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
- ^ "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.
- "Julia Gillard bows to unis, adds Tertiary Education to Chris Evans' title". The Australian. 14 September 2010.
