MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (AUSTRALIA)

In the Government of Australia, the 'Minister for Foreign Affairs' is responsible for overseeing the international diplomacy section of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Prior to 1970, the office was known as the 'Minister for External Affairs'. The minister is usually one of the most senior members of Cabinet — the position is equivalent to that of Secretary of State in the United States or Foreign Secretary in the United Kingdom — as shown by the fact that eleven Prime Ministers of Australia have also worked as the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
The minister is seen as one of the people most responsible for formulating Australia's foreign policy, as they along with other relevant ministers advise the Prime Minister in developing and implementing foreign policy, and also acts as the government's main spokesperson on international affairs issues. In recent times, the minister also undertakes numerous international trips to meet with foreign representatives and Heads of State or Government.
The current Minister for Foreign Affairs is Alexander Downer, who is the longest-serving Minister for Foreign Affairs in Australian history.

Contents

List of Australian Foreign Ministers

List of Australian Foreign Ministers

Politician	Party	Time frame
Edmund Barton	Protectionist Party	1901-1903
Alfred Deakin	Protectionist Party	1903-1904
Billy Hughes	Australian Labor Party	1904
George Reid	Free Trade Party	1904-1905
Alfred Deakin	Commonwealth Liberal Party	1905-1908
Edgerton Batchelor	Australian Labor Party	1908-1909
Sir Littleton Groom	Protectionist Party	1909-1910
Edgerton Batchelor	Australian Labor Party	1910-1911
Josiah Thomas	Australian Labor Party	1911-1913
Patrick Glynn	Commonwealth Liberal Party	1913-1914
John Arthur	Australian Labor Party	1914
Hugh Mahon	Australian Labor Party	1914-1916
Billy Hughes	Nationalist Party of Australia	1921-1923
Stanley Bruce	Nationalist Party of Australia	1923-1929
James Scullin	Australian Labor Party	1929-1932
John Latham	United Australia Party	1932-1934
George Pearce	United Australia Party	1934-1937
Billy Hughes	United Australia Party	1937-1939
Henry Somer Gullett	United Australia Party	1939-1940
John McEwen	Country Party	1940
Frederick Stewart	United Australia Party	1940-1941
Dr. H.V. Evatt	Australian Labor Party	1941-1949
Percy Spender	Liberal Party of Australia	1949-1951
Richard Casey	Liberal Party of Australia	1951-1960
Robert Menzies	Liberal Party of Australia	1960-1961
Garfield Barwick	Liberal Party of Australia	1961-1964
Paul Hasluck	Liberal Party of Australia	1964-1969
Gordon Freeth	Liberal Party of Australia	1969
William McMahon	Liberal Party of Australia	1969-1971
Leslie Bury	Liberal Party of Australia	1971
Nigel Bowen	Liberal Party of Australia	1971-1972
Gough Whitlam	Australian Labor Party	1972-1973
Don Willesee	Australian Labor Party	1973-1975
Andrew Peacock	Liberal Party of Australia	1975-1980
Tony Street	Liberal Party of Australia	1980-1983
Bill Hayden	Australian Labor Party	1983-1988
Gareth Evans	Australian Labor Party	1988-1996
Alexander Downer	Liberal Party of Australia	1996-