Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
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The Minister for Immigration and Citizenship 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 | 19 December 1949(1949-12-19) | 24 October 1956(1956-10-24) | 6 years, 310 days | ||
| 3 | Athol Townley | 24 October 1956(1956-10-24) | 19 March 1958(1958-03-19) | 1 year, 146 days | ||||
| 4 | Alick Downer | 19 March 1958(1958-03-19) | 18 December 1963(1963-12-18) | 5 years, 274 days | ||||
| 5 | Hubert Opperman | 18 December 1963(1963-12-18) | 26 January 1966(1966-01-26) | 2 years, 361 days | ||||
| Holt | 26 January 1966(1966-01-26) | 14 December 1966(1966-12-14) | ||||||
| 6 | Billy Snedden | 14 December 1966(1966-12-14) | 19 December 1967(1967-12-19) | 2 years, 333 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) | ||||||
| 7 | Phillip Lynch | McMahon | 12 November 1969(1969-11-12) | 22 March 1971(1971-03-22) | 1 year, 130 days | |||
| 8 | Jim Forbes | 22 March 1971(1971-03-22) | 5 December 1972(1972-12-05) | 1 year, 258 days | ||||
| 9 | Lance Barnard1 | Labor | Whitlam | 5 December 1972(1972-12-05) | 19 December 1972(1972-12-19) | 14 days | ||
| 10 | Al Grassby | 19 December 1972(1972-12-19) | 12 June 1974(1974-06-12) | 1 year, 175 days | ||||
| 11 | Clyde Cameron | Minister for Labour and Immigration | 12 June 1974(1974-06-12) | 6 June 1975(1975-06-06) | 359 days | |||
| 12 | Jim McClelland | 6 June 1975(1975-06-06) | 11 November 1975(1975-11-11) | 158 days | ||||
| 13 | Tony Street | Liberal | Fraser | 12 November 1975(1975-11-12) | 22 December 1975(1975-12-22) | 40 days | ||
| 14 | Michael MacKellar | 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 | 8 December 1979(1979-12-08) | 7 May 1982(1982-05-07) | 2 years, 150 days | ||||
| 16 | John Hodges | 7 May 1982(1982-05-07) | 11 March 1983(1983-03-11) | 308 days | ||||
| 17 | Stewart West | Labor | Hawke | 11 March 1983(1983-03-11) | 13 December 1984(1984-12-13) | 1 year, 277 days | ||
| 18 | Chris Hurford | 13 December 1984(1984-12-13) | 16 February 1987(1987-02-16) | 2 years, 65 days | ||||
| 19 | Mick Young | 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 | 12 February 1988(1988-02-12) | 2 September 1988(1988-09-02) | 203 days | ||||
| 21 | Robert Ray | 2 September 1988(1988-09-02) | 4 April 1990(1990-04-04) | 1 year, 214 days | ||||
| 22 | Gerry Hand | 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) | ||||||
| 23 | Nick Bolkus | 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 | |
| Minister for Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | 26 November 2001(2001-11-26) | 7 October 2003(2003-10-07) | ||||||
| 25 | Amanda Vanstone | 7 October 2003(2003-10-07) | 27 January 2006(2006-01-27) | 3 years, 115 days | ||||
| Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs | 27 January 2006(2006-01-27) | 30 January 2007(2007-01-30) | ||||||
| 26 | Kevin Andrews | Minister for Immigration and Citizenship | 30 January 2007(2007-01-30) | 3 December 2007(2007-12-03) | 307 days | |||
| 27 | Chris Evans | Labor | Rudd | 3 December 2007(2007-12-03) | 24 June 2010(2010-06-24) | 2 years, 285 days | ||
| Gillard | 24 June 2010(2010-06-24) | 14 September 2010(2010-09-14) | ||||||
| 28 | Chris Bowen | 14 September 2010(2010-09-14) | 4 February 2013(2013-02-04) | 2 years, 143 days | ||||
| 29 | Brendan O'Connor | 4 February 2013(2013-02-04) | 1 July 2013(2013-07-01) | 147 days | ||||
| 30 | Tony Burke | 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 | 23 December 2014(2014-12-23) | 15 September 2015(2015-09-15) | 3 years, 241 days | ||||
| Turnbull | 15 September 2015(2015-09-15) | 21 August 2018(2018-08-21) | ||||||
| 33 | David Coleman | Morrison | Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs | 28 August 2018(2018-08-28) | 29 May 2019(2019-05-29) | 1 year, 107 days | ||
| Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs | 29 May 2019(2019-05-29) | 13 December 2019(2019-12-13) | ||||||
| (acting) | Alan Tudge | 13 December 2019(2019-12-13) | 22 December 2020(2020-12-22) | 1 year, 9 days | ||||
| 34 | Alex Hawke | 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 | Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs | 29 July 2024(2024-07-29) | 13 May 2025(2025-05-13) | 1 year, 262 days | |||
| Minister for Immigration and Citizenship | 13 May 2025(2025-05-13) | Incumbent |
Notes
1 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
The following individuals have held responsibility for citizenship or any precedent titles:
| Order | Minister | Party affiliation | Prime Minister | Ministerial title | Term start | Term end | Term in office | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 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 | |
| 2 | Peter McGauran | National | 26 October 2004(2004-10-26) | 6 July 2005(2005-07-06) | 253 days | |||
| 3 | John Cobb | 6 July 2005(2005-07-06) | 27 January 2006(2006-01-27) | 205 days | ||||
| 4 | Kevin Andrews | Liberal | Howard | Minister for Immigration and Citizenship | 30 January 2007(2007-01-30) | 3 December 2007(2007-12-03) | 307 days | |
| 5 | Chris Evans | Labor | Rudd | 3 December 2007(2007-12-03) | 24 June 2010(2010-06-24) | 2 years, 285 days | ||
| Gillard | 24 June 2010(2010-06-24) | 14 September 2010(2010-09-14) | ||||||
| 6 | Chris Bowen | 14 September 2010(2010-09-14) | 4 February 2013(2013-02-04) | 2 years, 143 days | ||||
| 7 | Brendan O'Connor | 4 February 2013(2013-02-04) | 1 July 2013(2013-07-01) | 147 days | ||||
| 8 | Alan Tudge | Liberal | Turnbull | Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs | 20 December 2017(2017-12-20) | 23 August 2018(2018-08-23) | 246 days | |
| 9 | David Coleman | Morrison | Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs | 28 August 2018(2018-08-28) | 29 May 2019(2019-05-29) | 1 year, 107 days | ||
| Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs | 29 May 2019(2019-05-29) | 13 December 2019(2019-12-13) | ||||||
| (acting) | Alan Tudge | 13 December 2019(2019-12-13) | 22 December 2020(2020-12-22) | 1 year, 9 days | ||||
| 10 | Alex Hawke | 22 December 2020(2020-12-22) | 23 May 2022(2022-05-23) | 1 year, 152 days | ||||
| 11 | 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 | |
| 12 | Tony Burke | Labor | Albanese | Minister for Immigration and Citizenship | 13 May 2025(2025-05-13) | Incumbent | 339 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 | |
| Assistant Minister for Immigration and Citizenship | 21 March 2007(2007-03-21) | 3 December 2007(2007-12-03) | ||||||
| 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 | |
| Gillard | ||||||||
| 3 | Kate Lundy | Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration and Citizenship | 14 September 2010(2010-09-14) | 16 February 2011(2011-02-16) | 1 year, 173 days | |||
| Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs | 16 February 2011(2011-02-16) | 5 March 2012(2012-03-05) | ||||||
| 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 | |
| Turnbull | 15 September 2015(2015-09-15) | 21 September 2015 | ||||||
| 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 | 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 | 1 year, 262 days |
Assistant ministers for citizenship
The following individuals served as the Assistant Minister for Citizenship, 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 | |
| Assistant Minister for Immigration and Citizenship | 21 March 2007(2007-03-21) | 3 December 2007(2007-12-03) | ||||||
| 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 | |
| Gillard | ||||||||
| 3 | Kate Lundy | Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration and Citizenship | 14 September 2010(2010-09-14) | 16 February 2011(2011-02-16) | 155 days | |||
| 4 | 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 | |
| 5 | Julian Hill | Labor | Albanese | Assistant Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs | 29 July 2024(2024-07-29) | 13 May 2025(2025-05-13) | 1 year, 262 days | |
| Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs | 13 May 2025(2025-05-13) | Incumbent |