In the Government of Australia, the minister oversees income support, compensation, care and commemoration programs for more than 400,000 veterans and their widows, widowers and dependants; and administers the portfolio through the Department of Veterans' Affairs.
The portfolio was created by Billy Hughes. It was called Minister for Repatriation from the appointment of the first Minister, Edward Millen on 28 September 1917 to deal with ex-soldiers returning from World War I. Stanley Bruce chose not to include a Minister for Repatriation in his ministry (1923–29), but his successor James Scullin restored it, and it has continued ever since, under different names. Gough Whitlam changed the portfolio title to Minister for Repatriation and Compensation in 1974; Malcolm Fraser restored it to its original title in 1975, and then changed it to Minister for Veterans' Affairs on 5 October 1976, Peter Durack being the last minister under the old title and the first under the new.
The following individuals have been appointed as Minister for Veterans' Affairs, or any of its precedent titles:[4]
Order | Minister | Party | Prime Minister | Title | Term start | Term end | Term in office | 1 | Edward Millen | Nationalist}}| | Nationalist | Hughes | Minister for Repatriation | {{start date|1917|9|28|df=y}} | {{end date|1923|2|9|df=y}} | {{age in years and days|1917|9|28|1923|2|9}} |
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2 | Frank Anstey | Labor}}| | Labor | Scullin | Minister for Repatriation | {{start date|1929|10|22|df=y}} | {{end date|1931|3|3|df=y}} | {{age in years and days|1929|10|22|1931|3|3}} |
3 | John McNeill | Labor}}| | {{start date|1931|3|3|df=y}} | {{end date|1932|1|6|df=y}} | {{age in days|1931|3|3|1932|1|6}} days |
4 | Charles Hawker | UAP}}| | United Australia | Lyons | {{start date|1932|1|6|df=y}} | {{end date|1932|4|12|df=y}} | {{age in days|1932|1|6|1932|4|12}} days |
5 | Charles Marr | UAP}}| | {{start date|1932|4|12|df=y}} | {{end date|1934|10|12|df=y}} | {{age in years and days|1932|4|12|1934|10|12}} |
6 | Billy Hughes | UAP}}| | {{start date|1934|10|12|df=y}} | {{end date|1935|11|6|df=y}} | {{age in years and days|1934|10|12|1935|11|6}} |
7 | Joseph Lyons | UAP}}| | {{start date|1935|11|8|df=y}} | {{end date|1936|2|6|df=y}} | {{age in days|1935|11|8|1936|2|6}} days |
n/a | Billy Hughes | UAP}}| | {{start date|1936|2|6|df=y}} | {{end date|1937|11|29|df=y}} | {{age in years and days|1936|2|6|1937|11|29}} |
8 | Harry Foll | UAP}}| | {{start date|1937|11|29|df=y}} | {{end date|1939|4|7|df=y}} | {{age in years and days|1937|11|29|1939|4|26}} |
UAP}}| | Page | {{start date|1939|4|7|df=y}} | {{end date|1939|4|26|df=y}} |
9 | Eric Harrison | UAP}}| | Menzies | {{start date|1939|4|26|df=y}} | {{end date|1940|3|14|df=y}} | {{age in days|1939|4|26|1940|3|14}} days |
10 | Geoffrey Street | UAP}}| | {{start date|1940|3|14|df=y}} | {{end date|1940|8|13|df=y}} | {{age in days|1940|3|14|1940|8|13}} days |
11 | Philip McBride | UAP}}| | {{start date|1940|8|14|df=y}} | {{end date|1940|10|28|df=y}} | {{age in days|1940|8|14|1940|10|28}} days |
12 | George McLeay | UAP}}| | {{start date|1940|10|28|df=y}} | {{end date|1941|6|26|df=y}} | {{age in days|1940|10|28|1941|6|26}} days |
13 | Herbert Collett | UAP}}| | {{start date|1941|6|26|df=y}} | {{end date|1941|8|29|df=y}} | {{age in days|1941|6|26|1941|10|7}} days |
UAP}}| | Fadden | {{start date|1941|8|29|df=y}} | {{end date|1941|10|7|df=y}} |
14 | Charles Frost | Labor}}| | Labor | Curtin | {{start date|1941|10|7|df=y}} | {{end date|1945|7|6|df=y}} | {{age in years and days|1941|10|7|1946|11|1}} |
Labor}}| | Forde | {{start date|1945|7|6|df=y}} | {{end date|1945|7|13|df=y}} |
Labor}}| | Chifley | {{start date|1945|7|13|df=y}} | {{end date|1946|11|1|df=y}} |
15 | Claude Barnard | Labor}}| | {{start date|1946|11|1|df=y}} | {{end date|1949|12|19|df=y}} | {{age in years and days|1946|11|1|1949|12|19}} |
16 | Walter Cooper | National}}| | Country Party | Menzies | {{start date|1949|12|19|df=y}} | {{end date|1960|12|29|df=y}} | {{age in years and days|1949|12|19|1960|12|29}} |
17 | Frederick Osborne | Liberal}}| | Liberal | {{start date|1960|12|29|df=y}} | {{end date|1961|12|22|df=y}} | {{age in days|1960|12|29|1961|12|22}} days |
18 | Reginald Swartz | Liberal}}| | {{start date|1961|12|22|df=y}} | {{end date|1964|12|22|df=y}} | {{age in years and days|1961|12|22|1964|12|22}} |
19 | Colin McKellar | Liberal}}| | {{start date|1964|12|22|df=y}} | {{end date|1966|1|26|df=y}} | {{age in years and days|1964|12|22|1969|11|12}} |
Liberal}}| | Holt | {{start date|1966|1|26|df=y}} | {{end date|1967|12|19|df=y}} |
Liberal}}| | McEwen | {{start date|1967|12|19|df=y}} | {{end date|1968|1|10|df=y}} |
Liberal}}| | Gorton | {{start date|1968|1|10|df=y}} | {{end date|1969|11|12|df=y}} |
20 | Mac Holten | Liberal}}| | {{start date|1969|11|12|df=y}} | {{end date|1971|3|10|df=y}} | {{age in years and days|1969|11|12|1972|12|5}} |
Liberal}}| | McMahon | {{start date|1971|3|10|df=y}} | {{end date|1972|12|5|df=y}} |
21 | 1|1| 1}} | Labor}}| | Labor | Whitlam | {{start date|1972|12|5|df=y}} | {{end date|1972|12|19|df=y}} | {{age in days|1972|12|5|1972|12|19}} days |
22 | Reg Bishop | Labor}}| | {{start date|1972|12|19|df=y}} | {{end date|1974|6|12|df=y}} | {{age in years and days|1972|12|19|1974|6|12}} |
23 | John Wheeldon | Labor}}| | Minister for Repatriation and Compensation | {{start date|1974|6|12|df=y}} | {{end date|1975|11|11|df=y}} | {{age in years and days|1974|6|12|1975|11|11}} |
24 | Don Chipp | Liberal}}| | Liberal | Fraser | {{start date|1975|11|11|df=y}} | {{end date|1975|12|22|df=y}} | {{age in days|1975|11|11|1975|12|22}} days |
25 | Kevin Newman | Liberal}}| | Minister for Repatriation | {{start date|1975|12|22|df=y}} | {{end date|1976|7|8|df=y}} | {{age in days|1975|12|22|1976|7|8}} days |
26 | Peter Durack | Liberal}}| | {{start date|1976|7|8|df=y}} | {{end date|1976|10|5|df=y}} | {{age in years and days|1976|7|8|1977|9|6}} |
Liberal}}| | Minister for Veterans' Affairs | {{start date|1976|10|5|df=y}} | {{end date|1977|9|6|df=y}} |
26 | 2|2| 2}} | Liberal}}| | {{start date|1977|9|6|df=y}} | {{end date|1978|7|4|df=y}} | {{age in days|1977|9|6|1978|7|4}} days |
27 | Evan Adermann | National}}| | Nationals | {{start date|1978|7|4|df=y}} | {{end date|1980|11|3|df=y}} | {{age in years and days|1978|7|4|1980|11|3}} |
28 | Tony Messner | Liberal}}| | Liberal | {{start date|1980|11|3|df=y}} | {{end date|1983|3|11|df=y}} | {{age in years and days|1980|11|3|1983|3|11}} |
29 | Arthur Gietzelt | Labor}}| | Labor | Hawke | {{start date|1983|3|11|df=y}} | {{end date|1987|7|24|df=y}} | {{age in years and days|1983|3|11|1987|7|24}} |
30 | Ben Humphreys | Labor}}| | {{start date|1987|7|24|df=y}} | {{end date|1991|12|20|df=y}} | {{age in years and days|1987|7|24|1993|3|24}} |
Labor}}| | Keating | {{start date|1991|12|20|df=y}} | {{end date|1993|3|24|df=y}} |
31 | John Faulkner | Labor}}| | {{start date|1993|3|24|df=y}} | {{end date|1994|3|25|df=y}} | {{age in years and days|1993|3|24|1994|3|25}} |
32 | Con Sciacca | Labor}}| | {{start date|1994|3|25|df=y}} | {{end date|1996|3|11|df=y}} | {{age in years and days|1994|3|25|1996|3|11}} |
33 | Bruce Scott | National}}| | Nationals | Howard | {{start date|1996|3|11|df=y}} | {{end date|2001|11|26|df=y}} | {{age in years and days|1996|3|11|2001|11|26}} |
35 | Danna Vale | Liberal}}| | Liberal | {{start date|2001|11|26|df=y}} | {{end date|2004|10|26|df=y}} | {{age in years and days|2001|11|26|2004|10|26}} |
36 | De-Anne Kelly | National}}| | Nationals | {{start date|2004|10|26|df=y}} | {{end date|2006|1|27|df=y}} | {{age in years and days|2004|10|26|2006|1|27}} |
37 | Bruce Billson | Liberal}}| | Liberal | {{start date|2006|1|27|df=y}} | {{end date|2007|12|3|df=y}} | {{age in years and days|2006|1|27|2007|12|3}} |
38 | Alan Griffin | Labor}}| | Labor | Rudd | {{start date|2007|12|3|df=y}} | {{end date|2010|6|24|df=y}} | {{age in years and days|2007|12|3|2010|9|13}} |
Labor}}| | Gillard | {{start date|2010|6|24|df=y}} | {{end date|2010|9|13|df=y}} |
39 | Warren Snowdon | Labor}}| | {{start date|2010|9|13|df=y}} | {{end date|2013|7|1|df=y}} | {{age in years and days|2010|9|13|2013|9|18}} |
Labor}}| | Rudd | {{start date|2013|7|1|df=y}} | {{end date|2013|9|18|df=y}} |
40 | Michael Ronaldson | Liberal}}| | Liberal | Abbott | {{start date|2013|9|18|df=y}} | 15 September 2015 | {{age in years and days|2013|9|18|2015|09|21|}} |
Liberal}}| | Turnbull | 15 September 2015 | 21 September 2015 |
41 | Stuart Robert | LNP}}| | Liberal National | {{start date|2015|09|21|df=y}} | 18 February 2016 | {{age in years and days|2015|09|21}} |
42 | Dan Tehan | Liberal}}| | Liberal | {{start date|2016|02|18|df=y}} | {{end date|2017|12|20|df=y}} | {{age in years and days|2016|02|18|2017|12|20}} |
43 | Michael McCormack | National}}| | Nationals | {{start date|2017|12|20|df=y}} | {{end date|2018|3|5|df=y}} | {{age in days|2017|12|20|2018|2|26}} days |
44 | Darren Chester | National}}| | {{start date|2018|3|5|df=y}} | Incumbent | {{age in days|2018|3|5}} days |
The following individuals have been appointed as Minister in charge of War Service Homes, or any of its precedent titles:[3]
Order | Minister | Party | Prime Minister | Title | Term start | Term end | Term in office | 1 | Josiah Francis | UAP}}| | United Australia | Lyons | Minister in charge of War Service Homes | {{start date|1932|1|6|df=y}} | {{end date|1934|11|9|df=y}} | {{age in years and days|1932|1|6|1934|11|9}} |
2 | Harold Thorby | National}}| | Country | Minister without portfolio in charge of War Service Homes | {{start date|1934|11|9|df=y}} | {{end date|1936|9|11|df=y}} | {{age in years and days|1934|11|9|1936|9|11}} |
3 | James Hunter | National}}| | {{start date|1936|9|11|df=y}} | {{end date|1937|11|29|df=y}} | {{age in years and days|1936|9|11|1937|11|29}} |
4 | Harry Foll | UAP}}| | United Australia | Minister in charge of War Service Homes | {{start date|1937|11|29|df=y}} | {{end date|1938|11|7|df=y}} | {{age in days|1937|11|29|1938|11|7}} days |
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5 | Herbert Collett | UAP}}| | United Australia | Menzies | Minister without portfolio administering War Service Homes | {{start date|1939|4|26|df=y}} | {{end date|1940|3|14|df=y}} | {{age in years and days|1939|4|26|1941|6|26}} |
UAP}}| | Minister without portfolio in charge of War Service Homes | {{start date|1940|3|14|df=y}} | {{end date|1940|8|13|df=y}} |
UAP}}| | Minister in charge of War Service Homes | {{start date|1940|8|14|df=y}} | {{end date|1940|10|28|df=y}} |
UAP}}| | Minister without portfolio administering War Service Homes | {{start date|1940|10|28|df=y}} | {{end date|1941|6|26|df=y}} |
6 | Charles Frost | Labor}}| | Labor | Curtin | Minister in charge of War Service Homes | {{start date|1941|10|7|df=y}} | {{end date|1945|7|6|df=y}} | {{age in years and days|1941|10|7|1945|7|13}} |
Labor}}| | Forde | {{start date|1945|7|6|df=y}} | {{end date|1945|7|13|df=y}} |
1. ^1 {{cite press release|quote=The Hon Darren Chester MP will return to the Ministry as Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Minister for Defence Personnel and Minister Assisting for the Centenary of ANZAC.|url=https://www.pm.gov.au/media/changes-ministry|title=Changes to the Ministry|date=1 March 2018|publisher=Government of Australia|author=Turnbull, Malcolm|authorlink=Malcolm Turnbull|accessdate=6 March 2018}}
2. ^{{cite web |title=Minister for Veterans' Affairs |publisher=Government of Australia |url=http://minister.dva.gov.au/ |accessdate=9 December 2007}}
3. ^1 {{cite web|url=http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;adv=yes;orderBy=customrank;page=2;query=Lazzarini;rec=12;resCount=Default |title=Ministries and Cabinets |work=43rd Parliamentary Handbook: Historical information on the Australian Parliament |publisher=Parliament of Australia |year=2010 |accessdate=9 July 2013 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813030853/http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p%3Badv%3Dyes%3BorderBy%3Dcustomrank%3Bpage%3D2%3Bquery%3DLazzarini%3Brec%3D12%3BresCount%3DDefault |archivedate=13 August 2014 |df= }}
{{Australian federal ministerial portfolios |state=autocollapsed}}