Minister for Communications (Australia)
| Minister for Communications | |
|---|---|
| Department of Communications and the Arts | |
| Style | The Honourable |
| Appointer | Governor-General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister of Australia |
| Inaugural holder | John Forrest |
| Formation | 1 January 1901 |
| Minister for Regional Communications | |
|---|---|
| Department of Communications and the Arts | |
| Style | The Honourable |
| Appointer | Governor-General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister of Australia |
| Inaugural holder | Sharon Bird |
| Formation | 1 July 2013 |
The Australian Minister for Communications has overall responsibility for broadcasting, the information and communications technology industry, the information economy, and telecommunications within Australia.
The current Minister for Communications is Senator the Hon. Mitch Fifield, since 21 September 2015.
The current Minister for Regional Communications is Senator the Hon. Fiona Nash, since 18 February 2016.
In the Government of Australia, the ministers administer the portfolio through the Department of Communications and the Arts and a range of other government agencies.
Portfolio agencies and bodies include:
The minister responsible for telecommunications policy has had various titles. From 1901 until December 1975 it was the Postmaster-General, who administered the portfolio through the Postmaster-General's Department.
The following individuals have been appointed as Minister for Communications, or any of its precedent titles:
Notes
On 24 July 1987, the third Hawke Ministry implemented a two-level ministerial structure, with distinctions drawn between senior and junior ministers. This arrangement has been continued by subsequent ministries; however, junior ministers have been appointed in the telecommunications portfolio on only five occasions. Senior ministers are shown in the table above.
The following individuals have been appointed as junior ministers in the telecommunications portfolio, reporting to the Minister for Communications, or any of its precedent titles:
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