Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (New South Wales)

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
Incumbent
Sarah Mitchell
since 30 January 2017
Aboriginal Affairs NSW
Style The Honourable
Nominator Premier of New South Wales
Appointer Governor of New South Wales
Inaugural holder Frank Walker
Formation 2 October 1981

The New South Wales Minister for Aboriginal Affairs is a minister in the Government of New South Wales with responsibility for administering legislation and policy in relation to that state's indigenous Australians in New South Wales, Australia.

The current minister is Sarah Mitchell who also serves as the Minister for Early Childhood Education and as the Assistant Minister for Education, appointed with effect from 30 January 2017. The minister assists the lead portfolio minister, the Minister for Education, currently Rob Stokes who was also appointed with effect from 30 January 2017.[1] Together the ministers administers the portfolio through Aboriginal Affairs NSW, an agency of the Department of Education, as well as a range of additional government agencies.

Office history

The first Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Frank Walker, was appointed by the Labor Government of Neville Wran on 2 October 1981 and a "Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs" was established on 1 January 1982.[2] This role replaced the Aboriginal Affairs responsibilities of the Minister for Youth and Community Services (the last being Kevin Stewart). Prior to 1969 Aboriginal Affairs was within the purview of the Chief Secretary. The new ministry had responsibilities for advising the Government on "how and where land rights for Aboriginal people might be granted" and for the provision of services to Aboriginal communities.[2]

On 15 April 1988, the Ministry was abolished and its responsibilities were transferred to the new "Bureau of Aboriginal Affairs" within the Premier’s Department. The Bureau was renamed to the "Office of Aboriginal Affairs" by June 1988 and was charged with the administration of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act, 1983 (NSW) and the administration of Aboriginal Land Councils.[3] On 1 July 1993, the Office of Aboriginal Affairs was established as an administrative office independent of the Premier's Department responsible to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs.[4]

On 6 April 1995 the Office was abolished and was transferred to the "Department of Aboriginal Affairs". On 1 July 2009 the Department was abolished as an independent body and was subordinated to the new Department of Human Services. On 4 April 2011, the Department was renamed "Aboriginal Affairs NSW" and was transferred to the Department of Education and Communities within the Office of Communities. In July 2015 the Office of Communities was abolished but Aboriginal Affairs remained within the parent Department of Education.[5]

List of ministers

Aboriginal Affairs

The following individuals have been appointed Minister for Aboriginal Affairs.[6]

Minister Party affiliation Ministerial title Term start Term end Time in office
Frank Walker Labor Minister for Aboriginal Affairs 2 October 1981 10 February 1984 2 years, 131 days
Paul Whelan 10 February 1984 5 April 1984 55 days
George Paciullo 5 April 1984 6 February 1986 1 year, 307 days
Peter Anderson 6 February 1986 4 July 1986 148 days
Ken Gabb 4 July 1986 21 March 1988 1 year, 261 days
Jim Longley Liberal Minister for Aboriginal Affairs 26 May 1993 4 April 1995 1 year, 313 days
Andrew Refshauge Labor 4 April 1995 3 August 2005 10 years, 121 days
Carmel Tebbutt 3 August 2005 10 August 2005 7 days
Milton Orkopoulos 10 August 2005 8 November 2006 1 year, 90 days
Reba Meagher 8 November 2006 2 April 2007 145 days
Paul Lynch 2 April 2007 28 March 2011 4 years, 1 day
Victor Dominello Liberal 3 April 2011 2 April 2015 3 years, 364 days
Leslie Williams Nationals 2 April 2015 30 January 2017 1 year, 303 days
Sarah Mitchell 30 January 2017 incumbent 1 year, 256 days

References

  1. ↑ Vukovic, Dom; Gerathy, Sarah; McDonald, Philippa (29 January 2017). "NSW Cabinet reshuffle: Premier Gladys Berejiklian announces big changes to front bench". ABC News. Australia. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  2. 1 2 "Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs". NSW State Records. NSW Government. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  3. ↑ "Bureau of Aboriginal Affairs (1988) Office of Aboriginal Affairs[I] (1988 - 1993)". NSW State Records. NSW Government. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  4. ↑ "Office of Aboriginal Affairs [II]". NSW State Records. NSW Government. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  5. ↑ "Department of Aboriginal Affairs". NSW State Records. NSW Government. Retrieved 26 September 2015.
  6. ↑ "NSW Parliamentary Record (11 August 1824 - November 2007)" (PDF). Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly. Parliament of New South Wales. VIII. November 2007. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
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