Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (Western Australia)

The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs is a position in the Cabinet of Western Australia, first created in 1947 during the McLarty–Watts Ministry.

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
Incumbent
Ben Wyatt
since 17 March 2017 (2017-03-17)
Department of Aboriginal Affairs
StyleThe Honourable
NominatorPremier of Western Australia
AppointerGovernor of Western Australia
Inaugural holderRoss McDonald
(as Minister for Native Affairs)
Formation1 April 1947
WebsiteMinister Ben Wyatt MP

The current Minister for Aboriginal Affairs is Ben Wyatt of the Labor Party, who holds the position as a member of the McGowan Ministry. The minister, who has generally held other portfolios, is responsible for the state government's Department of Aboriginal Affairs (DAA), which exists "to facilitate the development of policy and programs which deliver sustainable economic, environmental and social benefits to Aboriginal communities".[1]

List of Ministers for Aboriginal Affairs

Twenty one people have been appointed as Minister for Aboriginal Affairs in Western Australia, with Edgar Lewis's 8 years and 325 days during the Brand–Nalder Ministry the longest period in the position. The position and corresponding department have existed under several different names, including Native Affairs (4 years), Native Welfare (19 years), Aboriginal Affairs (23 years), and Indigenous Affairs (12 years).[2] The current name was adopted after requests from representatives of Western Australia's Aboriginal communities.[1]

In the table below, members of the Legislative Council are designated "MLC". All others were members of the Legislative Assembly at the time of their service. In Western Australia, serving ministers are entitled to be styled "The Honourable", and may retain the style after three years' service in the ministry.[3]

Order Minister Party Premier Title Term start Term end Term in office
1 Ross McDonald   Liberal McLarty Minister for Native Affairs 1 April 1947 (1947-04-01) 5 January 1948 (1948-01-05) 2 years, 189 days
  Minister for Native Welfare 5 January 1948 (1948-01-05) 7 October 1949 (1949-10-07)
2 Hubert Parker MLC   Minister for Native Affairs 7 October 1949 (1949-10-07) 6 April 1950 (1950-04-06) 181 days
3 Victor Doney   Country 6 April 1950 (1950-04-06) 23 February 1953 (1953-02-23) 2 years, 323 days
4 Bill Hegney   Labor Hawke Minister for Native Welfare 23 February 1953 (1953-02-23) 20 April 1956 (1956-04-20) 3 years, 57 days
5 John Brady   20 April 1956 (1956-04-20) 2 April 1959 (1959-04-02) 2 years, 347 days
6 Charles Perkins   Country Brand 2 April 1959 (1959-04-02) 16 November 1961 (1961-11-16) 2 years, 228 days
7 George Cornell   16 November 1961 (1961-11-16) 11 April 1962 (1962-04-11) 146 days
8 Edgar Lewis   12 April 1962 (1962-04-12) 3 March 1971 (1971-03-03) 8 years, 325 days
No minister – portfolio transferred to Minister for Community Welfare (1971–1983).
9 Keith Wilson   Labor Burke Minister with special responsibility for Aboriginal Affairs 25 February 1983 (1983-02-25) 26 February 1986 (1986-02-26) 3 years, 150 days
  Minister for Aboriginal Affairs 26 February 1986 (1986-02-26) 25 July 1986 (1986-07-25)
10 Ernie Bridge   25 July 1986 (1986-07-25) 25 February 1988 (1988-02-25) 2 years, 218 days
  Dowding 25 February 1988 (1988-02-25) 28 February 1989 (1989-02-28)
11 Carmen Lawrence   28 February 1989 (1989-02-28) 12 February 1990 (1990-02-12) 1 year, 342 days
  Lawrence 12 February 1990 (1990-02-12) 5 February 1991 (1991-02-05)
12 Judyth Watson   5 February 1991 (1991-02-05) 16 February 1993 (1993-02-16) 2 years, 11 days
13 Kevin Minson   Liberal Court 16 February 1993 (1993-02-16) 25 January 1994 (1994-01-25) 343 days
14 Kevin Prince   25 January 1994 (1994-01-25) 9 January 1997 (1997-01-09) 2 years, 350 days
15 Kim Hames   9 January 1997 (1997-01-09) 16 February 2001 (2001-02-16) see below
16 Alan Carpenter   Labor Gallop Minister for Indigenous Affairs 16 February 2001 (2001-02-16) 27 June 2003 (2003-06-27) 2 years, 131 days
17 John Kobelke   27 June 2003 (2003-06-27) 25 January 2006 (2006-01-25) 2 years, 221 days
  Carpenter 25 January 2006 (2006-01-25) 3 February 2006 (2006-02-03)
18 Sheila McHale   3 February 2006 (2006-02-03) 2 March 2007 (2007-03-02) 1 year, 27 days
19 Michelle Roberts   2 March 2007 (2007-03-02) 23 September 2008 (2008-09-23) 1 year, 205 days
(15) Kim Hames   Liberal Barnett 23 September 2008 (2008-09-23) 14 December 2010 (2010-12-14) 6 years,
120 days
20 Peter Collier MLC   14 December 2010 (2010-12-14) 21 March 2013 (2013-03-21) 6 years, 93 days
  Minister for Aboriginal Affairs 21 March 2013 (2013-03-21) 17 March 2017 (2017-03-17)
21 Ben Wyatt   Labor McGowan 17 March 2017 (2017-03-17) incumbent 3 years, 315 days

See also

References
  1. Department of Aboriginal Affairs – Government of Western Australia. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  2. Aboriginal / Indigenous Affairs Ministers of Western Australia – Parliamentary Library of Western Australia. Last updated 29 June 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  3. Addressing a Member of Parliament – Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
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