The minister for infrastructure, transport, regional development and local government in the Government of Australia is a position currently held by Catherine King following the swearing in of the full Albanese ministry on 1 June 2022.
The minister for regional development, local government and territories is a position currently held by Kristy McBain.
Scope In the Government of Australia, the minister for infrastructure has overall responsibility for all of the matters falling within the Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications portfolio, including regulation, safety and funding in relation to aviation, shipping, roads and railways and policy on regional development and local government.
History Under the Constitution of Australia the federal government was not given any specific responsibilities for transport, except for "railway construction and extension in any State with the consent of that State" (section 51(xxxiv)). In 1916, Billy Hughes appointed Patrick Lynch as Minister for Works and Railways to administer Commonwealth Railways and the construction of the Trans-Australian Railway. In December 1928, Stanley Bruce appointed Thomas Paterson as Minister for Markets and Transport, which included responsibility for funding road construction via grants to the states. In January 1932, this portfolio was renamed Minister for Transport, but in April 1932 it was absorbed into the new portfolio of Minister for the Interior along with the position of Minister for Works and Railways.
In December 1938, with the growth of significance of civil aviation and the commonwealth's assumption of responsibility for regulating it under international treaties, Joseph Lyons appointed Harold Thorby as the first Minister for Civil Aviation. In 1941 Robert Menzies re-established the transport portfolio with the appointment of Hubert Lawrence Anthony. The Curtin government was determined to establish a government shipping company, ultimately the Australian National Lines, and John Curtin appointed Jack Beasley as Minister for Supply and Development in 1941. This position was renamed Minister for Shipping, Fuel and Transport in 1950 under the Menzies government and Minister for Shipping and Transport in 1951. Gough Whitlam combined the transport and civil aviation portfolios in 1973, but it was re-divided with Malcolm Fraser's appointment of Wal Fife as Minister for Aviation in 1982. Bob Hawke abolished the aviation portfolio in 1987 with the creation of the "super" departments. Since 1987, there has been a single senior transport minister in Cabinet.
Agency and bodies Other agencies and bodies the portfolio include: Australian Transport Safety Bureau Airservices Australia Australian Bicycle Council Australian Global Navigation Satellite System Coordination Committee (AGCC) Australian Local Government and Planning Ministers' Council Australian Maritime College Australian Maritime Safety Authority Australian Motor Vehicle Certification Board Australian Rail Operations Unit Australian Rail Track Corporation Australian Transport Advisory Council Christmas Island Administration Civil Aviation Safety Authority Cocos (Keeling) Islands Administration East Kimberley Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Indigenous Trial International Air Services Commission Jervis Bay Territory Administration Local Government and Planning Joint Committee National Capital Authority National Transport Commission Navigation Safety Advisory Committee Administrator of the Northern Territory Office of the Administrator Norfolk Island Regional Development Council Regional Women's Advisory Council Standing Committee on Regional Development Secretariat Stevedoring Industry Finance Committee Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme Review Authority
List of ministers for infrastructure and transport The following individuals have been appointed as Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, or any precedent titles: Order Minister Party Prime Minister Title Term start Term end Term in office 1 Thomas Paterson Country BruceMinister for Markets and Transport 10 December 1928 22 October 1929 days 2 Parker Moloney Labor Scullin 22 October 1929 21 April 1930 Minister for Transport 21 April 1930 6 January 1932 3 Archdale Parkhill United Australia Lyons6 January 193212 April 1932 days 4 Larry Anthony Country MenziesMinister for Transport 26 June 1941 28 August 1941 days Fadden 28 August 1941 7 October 1941 5 George Lawson Labor Curtin 7 October 1941 21 September 1943 6 Eddie Ward 21 September 1943 6 July 1945 Forde 6 July 1945 13 July 1945 Chifley 13 July 1945 19 December 19497 Howard Beale LiberalMenzies19 December 194917 March 1950 days8 George McLeay Minister for Shipping, Fuel and Transport17 March 195011 May 1951Minister for Shipping and Transport11 May 195114 September 19559 John Spicer14 September 195527 September 1955 days10 Shane Paltridge27 September 19555 February 196011 Hubert Opperman5 February 196018 December 1963 12Gordon Freeth18 December 196321 January 1966 Holt26 January 196619 December 1967 McEwen19 December 196710 January 1968Gorton10 January 196828 February 1968 13 Ian Sinclair Country 28 February 1968 5 February 1971 14 Peter Nixon 5 February 1971 10 March 1971 McMahon 10 March 1971 5 December 1972 15 Gough Whitlam Labor Whitlam 5 December 1972 19 December 1972 days 16 Charles Jones Minister for Transport 19 December 1972 11 November 1975 (14) Peter Nixon National Country Fraser 11 November 1975 8 December 1979 17 Ralph Hunt 8 December 1979 7 May 1982 Minister for Transport and Construction 7 May 1982 16 October 1982 National 16 October 1982 11 March 1983 18 Peter Morris Labor Hawke Minister for Transport 11 March 1983 24 July 1987 19 Gareth EvansMinister for Transport and Communications 20 Ralph Willis 21 Kim Beazley 22 John Kerin daysKeating 23 Graham Richardson days 24 Bob Collins 25 Laurie Brereton Minister for Transport 24 December 1993 11 March 1996 26 John Sharp Nationals HowardMinister for Transport and Regional Development27 Mark Vaile28 John AndersonMinister for Transport and Regional Services29 Warren Truss(27) Mark Vaile30 Anthony Albanese Labor Rudd Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Gillard Minister for Infrastructure and Transport14 September 201027 June 2013 Rudd27 June 201318 September 2013 (29) Warren Truss Nationals Abbott Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development 15 September 2015 Turnbull18 February 2016 31 Darren Chester Minister for Infrastructure and Transport 32 Barnaby Joyce 33 Michael McCormack Morrison Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development (32) Barnaby Joyce 34 Catherine King Labor Albanese Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Incumbent
List of ministers for regional development The following individuals have been appointed Minister for Regional Development, or any precedent titles:
Order Minister Party Prime Minister Title Term start Term end Term in office1 Tom Uren Labor Whitlam Minister for Urban and Regional Development2 John Carrick Liberal Fraser days 3 Ivor Greenwood Minister for Environment, Housing and Community Development 4 Kevin Newman 5 Ray Groom 6 Alan Griffiths Labor Keating Minister for Industry, Technology and Regional Development days7 Peter Cook days8 Brian Howe Minister for Housing and Regional Development9 John Sharp Nationals HowardMinister for Transport and Regional Development10 Mark Vaile11 John AndersonMinister for Transport and Regional Services12 Warren Truss(10) Mark Vaile13 Anthony Albanese Labor Rudd Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Gillard14 Simon CreanMinister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government(13) Anthony Albanese Minister for Regional Development and Local Government days15 Sharon Bird Rudd Minister for Regional Development days (12) Warren Truss Nationals Abbott Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development 15 September 2015 Turnbull 16 Fiona Nash Minister for Regional Development 17 Darren Chester 20 December 2017 18 John McVeigh Minister for Regional Development, Territories and Local Government Morrison 19 Michael McCormack Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development 20 Barnaby Joyce 21 Catherine King Labor Albanese Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Incumbent Kristy McBain Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories
List of ministers for local government The following individuals have been appointed Minister for Local Government, or any precedent titles: Order Minister Party Prime Minister Title Term start Term end Term in office 1 Tom Uren Labor Hawke Minister for Territories and Local Government,Minister assisting the Prime Minister for Community Development and Regional Affairs Minister for Local Government and Administrative Services 2 Margaret Reynolds Labor Hawke Minister for Local Government 3 Wendy Fatin Keating 4 David Simmons 5 Brian Howe Minister for Housing, Local Government and Community Services Minister for Housing, Local Government and Human Services 6 Warwick Smith Liberal Howard Minister for Sport, Territories and Local Government 7 Alex Somlyay Minister for Regional Development, Territories and Local Government 8 Ian Macdonald Minister for Regional Services, Territories and Local Government 9 Wilson Tuckey Liberal Howard Minister for Regional Services, Territories and Local Government 10 Ian Campbell Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads 11 Jim Lloyd 12 Anthony AlbaneseLabor Rudd Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Gillard 13 Simon Crean Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government (12) Anthony Albanese Minister for Regional Development and Local Government 14 Catherine King Rudd Minister for Regional Australia, Local Government and Territories 15 Paul Fletcher Liberal Turnbull Minister for Territories, Local Government and Major Projects 16 Fiona Nash National Minister for Local Government and Territories 27 October 2017 17 Darren Chester 20 December 2017 18 John McVeigh Minister for Regional Development, Territories and Local Government Morrison 19 Bridget McKenzie Minister for Regional Services, Sport, Local Government and Decentralisation 20 Mark Coulton Minister for Regional Services, Decentralisation and Local Government Minister for Regional Health, Regional Communications and Local Government (19) Bridget McKenzie Minister for Regionalisation, Regional Communications and Regional Education (14) Catherine King Labor Albanese Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Incumbent 21 Kristy McBain Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories
List of ministers for cities
Former ministerial titles and portfolios List of ministers for aviation The following individuals have been appointed as Minister for Aviation, or any precedent titles: