Minister for the Arts (Australia)

Minister for the Arts
Incumbent Mitch Fifield since 21 September 2015 (2015-09-21)
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Style	The Honourable
Appointer	Governor-General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister of Australia
Inaugural holder	Peter Howson
Formation	10 March 1971 (1971-03-10)

The Australian Minister for the Arts is Senator the Honourable Mitch Fifield.

The minister administers the portfolio through the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

List of arts ministers

The only minister before Simon Crean to have the title of Minister for the Arts was Bob McMullan between 24 March 1993 and 25 March 1994. However, "Arts" has appeared in several ministerial titles since Peter Howson was appointed Minister for the Environment, Aborigines and the Arts on 10 March 1971. The following individuals have been appointed as Minister for the Arts, or any of its precedent titles:

Order	Minister	Party		Prime Minister	Title	Term start	Term end	Term in office
1	Peter Howson		Liberal	McMahon	Minister for the Environment, Aborigines and the Arts	10 March 1971 (1971-03-10)	5 December 1972 (1972-12-05)
2	Gough Whitlam		Labor	Whitlam		5 December 1972 (1972-12-05)	19 December 1972 (1972-12-19)	days
3	Tony Staley		Liberal	Fraser	Minister assisting the Prime Minister in matters concerning the Arts	16 August 1976 (1976-08-16)	20 December 1977 (1977-12-20)
4	Barry Cohen		Labor	Hawke	Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Environment	13 December 1984 (1984-12-13)	24 July 1987 (1987-07-24)
5	John Brown				Minister for the Arts, Sport, the Environment, Tourism and Territories	24 July 1987 (1987-07-24)	18 December 1987 (1987-12-18)	days
6	Graham Richardson					19 January 1988 (1988-01-19)	4 April 1990 (1990-04-04)
7	Ros Kelly					4 April 1990 (1990-04-04)	27 December 1991 (1991-12-27)
				Keating	Minister for the Arts, Sport, the Environment and Territories	27 December 1991 (1991-12-27)	24 March 1993 (1993-03-24)
8	Bob McMullan				Minister for the Arts and Administrative Services	24 March 1993 (1993-03-24)	30 January 1994 (1994-01-30)	days
9	Michael Lee				Minister for Communications and the Arts	30 January 1994 (1994-01-30)	11 March 1996 (1996-03-11)
10	Richard Alston		Liberal	Howard		11 March 1996 (1996-03-11)	9 October 1997 (1997-10-09)
					Minister for Communications, the Information Economy and the Arts	9 October 1997 (1997-10-09)	21 October 1998 (1998-10-21)
					Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts	21 October 1998 (1998-10-21)	7 October 2003 (2003-10-07)
11	Daryl Williams					7 October 2003 (2003-10-07)	18 July 2004 (2004-07-18)	days
12	Helen Coonan					18 July 2004 (2004-07-18)	3 December 2007 (2007-12-03)
13	Peter Garrett		Labor	Rudd	Minister for Environment, Heritage and the Arts	3 December 2007 (2007-12-03)	8 March 2010 (2010-03-08)
					Minister for Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts	8 March 2010 (2010-03-08)	28 June 2010 (2010-06-28)
				Gillard		28 June 2010 (2010-06-28)	14 September 2010 (2010-09-14)
14	Simon Crean				Minister for the Arts	14 September 2010 (2010-09-14)	25 March 2013 (2013-03-25)
15	Tony Burke					25 March 2013 (2013-03-25)	26 June 2013 (2013-06-26)	days
				Rudd		26 June 2013 (2013-06-26)	18 September 2013 (2013-09-18)
16	George Brandis		Liberal National	Abbott		18 September 2013 (2013-09-18)	15 September 2015 (2015-09-15)
				Turnbull		15 September 2015 (2015-09-15)	21 September 2015
17	Mitch Fifield		Liberal			21 September 2015 (2015-09-21)	Incumbent	days