Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (Australia)

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In the Government of Australia, the Minister for Immigration is responsible for overseeing the Department of Immigration.

The portfolio and department came into being 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). An exception was between January 1925 and January 1928, when Reginald Wilson and Thomas Paterson were Ministers for Markets and Migration.

The minister is 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 has on several occasions been responsible for another portfolio in addition to immigration such as ethnic/multicultural affairs or citizenship.

The current Minister for Immigration and Citizenship is Senator Chris Evans, who replaced Kevin Andrews. He was sworn in on 3 December 2007.

Contents

[edit] List of Australian Ministers for Immigration

Politician Party From To Other portfolios
Arthur Calwell Australian Labor Party 13 July 1945 19 December 1949
Harold Holt Liberal Party of Australia 19 December 1949 24 October 1956
Athol Townley Liberal Party of Australia 24 October 1956 19 March 1958
Alexander Downer, Sr. Liberal Party of Australia 19 March 1958 18 December 1963
Hubert Opperman Liberal Party of Australia 18 December 1963 14 December 1966
Billy Snedden Liberal Party of Australia 14 December 1966 12 November 1969
Phillip Lynch Liberal Party of Australia 12 November 1969 22 March 1971
Jim Forbes Liberal Party of Australia 22 March 1971 5 December 1972
Lance Barnard Australian Labor Party 5 December 1972 19 December 1972 see note
Al Grassby Australian Labor Party 19 December 1972 12 June 1974
Clyde Cameron Australian Labor Party 12 June 1974 6 June 1975 Labour
James McClelland Australian Labor Party 6 June 1975 11 November 1975 Labour
Tony Street Liberal Party of Australia 12 November 1975 22 December 1975 Labour
Michael MacKellar Liberal Party of Australia 22 December 1975 8 December 1979 Ethnic Affairs
Ian Macphee Liberal Party of Australia 8 December 1979 7 May 1982 Ethnic Affairs
John Hodges Liberal Party of Australia 7 May 1982 11 March 1983 Ethnic Affairs
Stewart West Australian Labor Party 11 March 1983 13 December 1984 Ethnic Affairs
Chris Hurford Australian Labor Party 13 December 1984 16 February 1987 Ethnic Affairs
Mick Young Australian Labor Party 16 February 1987 12 February 1988 Local Government and Ethnic Affairs
Clyde Holding Australian Labor Party 12 February 1988 2 September 1988 Local Government and Ethnic Affairs
Robert Ray Australian Labor Party 2 September 1988 4 April 1990 Local Government and Ethnic Affairs
Gerry Hand Australian Labor Party 4 April 1990 24 March 1993 Ethnic Affairs
Nick Bolkus Australian Labor Party 24 March 1993 11 March 1996 Ethnic Affairs
Philip Ruddock Liberal Party of Australia 11 March 1996 7 October 2003 Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs
Amanda Vanstone Liberal Party of Australia 7 October 2003 23 January 2007 Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs
Kevin Andrews Liberal Party of Australia 23 January 2007 3 December 2007 Citizenship
Chris Evans Australian Labor Party 3 December 2007 Incumbent Citizenship

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[edit] External links