Minister for Aboriginal Affairs (New South Wales)

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
Incumbent
Leslie Williams

since 2 April 2015
Aboriginal Affairs NSW
Style The Honourable
Appointer Governor of New South Wales
Inaugural holder Frank Walker
Formation 2 October 1981

The New South Wales Minister for Aboriginal Affairs is the elected officer of the government in the Australian state of New South Wales responsible for administering legislation and policy in relation to that state's indigenous Australians through Aboriginal Affairs NSW, an agency of the Department of Education.

The current Minister since 2 April 2015 is Leslie Williams, an elected representative of the National Party. The Minister reports to the Minister for Education, Adrian Piccoli (Nationals).[1]

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]

Ministers for Aboriginal Affairs

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

Minister Party affiliation Period Ministerial title
Frank Walker Labor 2 October 1981 – 10 February 1984 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
Paul Whelan 10 February 1984 – 5 April 1984
George Paciullo 5 April 1984 – 6 February 1986
Peter Anderson 6 February 1986 – 4 July 1986
Ken Gabb 4 July 1986 – 21 March 1988
Office not in use
Jim Longley Liberal 26 May 1993 – 4 April 1995 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
Andrew Refshauge Labor 4 April 1995 – 3 August 2005
Carmel Tebbutt 3 August 2005 – 10 August 2005
Milton Orkopoulos 10 August 2005 – 8 November 2006
Reba Meagher 8 November 2006 – 2 April 2007
Paul Lynch 2 April 2007 – 28 March 2011
Victor Dominello Liberal 3 April 2011 – 2 April 2015
Leslie Williams Nationals 2 April 2015  present

References

  1. Hasham, Nicole (3 April 2015). "Premier Mike Baird's new NSW cabinet sworn in: Gladys Berejiklian and Gabrielle Upton first female Treasurer and Attorney-General". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  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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