Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (New South Wales) explained

Insignia:Coat of Arms of New South Wales.svg
Post:Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty
Incumbent:David Harris
Style:The Honourable
Appointer:Governor of New South Wales
Inaugural:Frank Walker
Formation:2 October 1981
Department:Premier's Department

The New South Wales Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty 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 the state of New South Wales, Australia.

The current Minister for Aboriginal Affairs is David Harris, who also holds the portfolios of Gaming and Racing and Veterans, appointed with effect from 5 April 2023. The minister administers the portfolio through Aboriginal Affairs NSW, an agency of the Premier's Department, as well as a range of additional government agencies.

Ultimately, the minister is responsible to the Parliament of New South Wales.

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. 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.[1]

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.[2] 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.[3]

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.[4]

Following the 2019 state election, Aboriginal Affairs NSW was transferred from the Department of Education to the Department of Premier and Cabinet, with Don Harwin appointed as Minister for the Public Service and Employee Relations, Aboriginal Affairs, and the Arts.

List of ministers

Ministerial title Minister Party Ministry Term start Term end Time in office Notes
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Wran (4) (5)align=center 2 October 1981 align=center 10 February 1984align=right
Wran (6)align=center 10 February 1984 align=center 5 April 1984align=right
Wran (7)align=center 5 April 1984 align=center 6 February 1986align=right
Wran (8)align=center 6 February 1986 align=center 4 July 1986align=right
Unsworthalign=center 4 July 1986 align=center 21 March 1988align=right
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Fahey (3)align=center 26 May 1993 align=center 4 April 1995align=right
 Carr (1) (2) (3) (4)align=center 4 April 1995 align=center 3 August 2005
Iemma (1)align=center 3 August 2005 align=center 10 August 2005align=right
align=center 10 August 2005 align=center 8 November 2006align=right
align=center 8 November 2006 align=center 2 April 2007align=right
Iemma (2)
Rees
Keneally		align=center 2 April 2007 align=center 28 March 2011align=right
 O'Farrell
Baird (1)		align=center 3 April 2011 align=center 2 April 2015align=right
 Baird (2)align=center 2 April 2015align=center 30 January 2017align=right
Berejiklian (1)align=center 30 January 2017align=center 23 March 2019align=right [5]
Minister for the Public Service and Employee Relations,
Aboriginal Affairs, and the Arts		 Berejiklian (2)align=center 2 April 2019align=center 15 April 2020align=right [6]
Gladys Berejiklian
(acting)		align=center 15 April 2020align=center 3 July 2020align=right [7] [8]
Berejiklian (2)
Perrottet (1)		align=center 3 July 2020align=center 21 December 2021align=right [9]
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Perrottet (2)align=center 21 December 2021align=center 28 March 2023align=right
Special Minister of State Minnsalign=center 28 March 2023align=center 5 April 2023
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treatyalign=center 5 April 2023align=center incumbent

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: AGY-562 Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs . 2022-05-12 . NSW State Records & Archives.
  2. Web site: AGY-563 Bureau of Aboriginal Affairs (1988) Office of Aboriginal Affairs[I] (1988-1993) ]. 2022-05-12 . NSW State Records & Archives.
  3. Web site: AGY-4112 Office of Aboriginal Affairs [II] ]. 2022-05-12 . NSW State Records & Archives.
  4. Web site: AGY-564 Department of Aboriginal Affairs . 2022-05-12 . NSW State Records & Archives.
  5. News: AAP. Refreshed NSW cabinet sworn in. 30 January 2017. Sky News. Australia. 30 January 2017.
  6. Web site: NSW Arts Minister resigns after breaking coronavirus lockdown rules. 2020-04-10. ABC News. en-AU. 2020-04-10.
  7. Web site: Administrative Arrangements (Administrative Changes—Ministers and Public Service Agencies) Order 2020. 15 April 2020. 11 May 2020.
  8. Web site: Wake . Caroline . Carriageworks was in trouble before coronavirus - but this crisis could be an opportunity . The Conversation . 7 May 2020 . 11 May 2020.
  9. Web site: NSW Police boss hits back after former Arts minister Don Harwin gets off coronavirus fine. ABC News. 3 July 2020. 7 July 2020.

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