Ministers

What is a Minister?

A Minister is a government Member or Senator who is responsible for a particular area of administration or policy, called a portfolio. Ministers are members of the Executive and may also be part of the Cabinet. In the House of Representatives Chamber, Ministers sit on the front bench at the Speaker’s right.

What does a Minister do?

Ministers are responsible for a government department, authority or policy area. As part of their duties, Ministers are expected to:

• represent their portfolio in Cabinet meetings,
• introduce bills relating to their policy areas, and
• promote and administer the policies and programs for which they are responsible.

Ministers are assisted by Parliamentary Secretaries and are supported by the staff and resources of their departments.

The first Ministers of the House of Representatives

In 1901, the Australian Constitution provided for not more than seven Ministers, whose task was to advise the Governor-General and whose combined salaries should not be more than 12,000 pounds. The number of Ministers was increased to eight in 1915. By 2001, it reached a limit of 30.