The first Albanese ministry was the 73rd ministry of the
Government of Australia
The Australian Government, also known as the Commonwealth Government or simply as the federal government, is the national Executive (government), executive government of Australia, a federalism, federal Parliamentary system, parliamentary con ...
. It was led by the country's 31st
Prime Minister
A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...
,
Anthony Albanese
Anthony Norman Albanese ( or ; born 2 March 1963) is an Australian politician serving as the 31st and current prime minister of Australia since 2022. He has been the Leaders of the Australian Labor Party#Leader, leader of the Labor Party si ...
. The Albanese ministry succeeded the
second Morrison ministry, which resigned on 23 May 2022 following the
federal election that took place on 21 May which saw Labor defeat
Scott Morrison
Scott John Morrison (born 13 May 1968) is an Australian former politician who served as the 30th prime minister of Australia from 2018 to 2022. He held office as leader of the Liberal Party of Australia, leader of the Liberal Party and was ...
's
Liberal–
National
National may refer to:
Common uses
* Nation or country
** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen
Places in the United States
* National, Maryland, c ...
Coalition
A coalition is formed when two or more people or groups temporarily work together to achieve a common goal. The term is most frequently used to denote a formation of power in political, military, or economic spaces.
Formation
According to ''A G ...
.
[
Although counting was still underway on election night, most media outlets projected that due to severe losses by Morrison's Liberal/]National
National may refer to:
Common uses
* Nation or country
** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen
Places in the United States
* National, Maryland, c ...
Coalition
A coalition is formed when two or more people or groups temporarily work together to achieve a common goal. The term is most frequently used to denote a formation of power in political, military, or economic spaces.
Formation
According to ''A G ...
, Labor was the only party that could realistically form even a minority government. Accordingly, Morrison conceded defeat to Albanese late on election night. Soon afterward, in accordance with longstanding Australian constitutional practice, he advised the Governor-General
Governor-general (plural governors-general), or governor general (plural governors general), is the title of an official, most prominently associated with the British Empire. In the context of the governors-general and former British colonies, ...
, David Hurley
David John Hurley (born 26 August 1953) is an Australian former senior officer in the Australian Army who served as the 27th governor-general of Australia from 2019 to 2024. He was previously the 38th governor of New South Wales from 2014 to ...
, that he was no longer in a position to govern. Normally, Morrison would have stayed on as caretaker Prime Minister until the final results were known. As the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue
The Quad is a grouping of Australia, India, Japan, and the United States that is maintained by talks between member countries. The grouping follows the "Tsunami Core Group" and its "new type of diplomacy" developed in response to the 2004 2004 ...
was due to be held on 24 May 2022, Albanese advised Hurley that he could form a government. Hurley then swore in Albanese and four senior Labor frontbenchers as an interim five-person ministry on 23 May, two days after the election. According to ABC News ABC News most commonly refers to:
* ABC News (Australia), a national news service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation
* ABC News (United States), a news-gathering and broadcasting division of the American Broadcasting Company
ABC News may a ...
, Hurley would not have invited Albanese to form a government without assurances that Labor could provide stable government, as well as legal advice that this was the proper course of action. According to the ''Australian Financial Review
The ''Australian Financial Review'' (''AFR'') is an Australian compact daily newspaper with a focus on business, politics and economic affairs. The newspaper is based in Sydney, New South Wales, and has been published continuously since its foun ...
'', Albanese had secured enough support from crossbenchers to be able to govern in the event Labor fell short of a majority. On 30 May 2022, Australian media outlets projected that Labor had won enough seats in the House of Representatives to become a majority government
A majority government is a government by one or more governing parties that hold an absolute majority of seats in a legislature. Such a government can consist of one party that holds a majority on its own, or be a coalition government of multi ...
.
After the swearing-in of the interim arrangement, during his first press conference as prime minister, Albanese announced that his first full ministry would be sworn in on 1 June 2022. The members of the ministry were announced on 31 May and sworn in the following day.
Following Labor's re-election at the 2025 federal election, the ministry was succeeded by the second Albanese ministry on 13 May 2025.
Final arrangement (2024–2025)
Albanese announced on 25 July 2024 that he would refresh his ministry after two cabinet ministers, indigenous affairs minister Linda Burney
Linda Jean Burney (born 25 April 1957) is an Australian Labor Party (ALP) politician who was the member of Parliament (MP) for the division of Barton from 2016 to 2025. She was the minister for Indigenous Australians from 2022 to July 2024. S ...
and skills minister Brendan O'Connor announced that they would retire at the 2025 Australian federal election
The 2025 Australian federal election was held on Saturday, 3 May 2025, to elect members of the 48th Parliament of Australia. All 150 seats in the Australian House of Representatives, House of Representatives were up for election, along with 40 ...
, and also immediately step down from the ministry. On 27 July 2024, Carol Brown also announced she would step down from the assistant ministry for health reasons.
Albanese announced the new ministry on 28 July 2024. Malarndirri McCarthy and Jenny McAllister were selected unopposed by their Labor Left faction to replace Burney and O'Connor as ministers. McCarthy and Pat Conroy
Donald Patrick Conroy (October 26, 1945 – March 4, 2016) was an American author who wrote several acclaimed novels and memoirs; his books ''The Water Is Wide (book), The Water is Wide'', ''The Lords of Discipline'', ''The Prince of Tides (no ...
were elevated to cabinet. McCarthy, who was previously the assistant indigenous affairs minister, was appointed as the new indigenous affairs minister, while there were no changes to Conroy's portfolios (defence industry and international development). Tony Burke
Anthony Stephen Burke (born 4 November 1969) is an Australian politician serving as Leader of the House, Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for the Arts. He is a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP), and has served as member of ...
gained the home affairs, cyber security and immigration portfolios from Clare O'Neil
Clare Ellen O'Neil (born 12 September 1980) is an Australian politician who is the Minister for Housing and Minister for Homelessness since July 2024, Minister for Cities since May 2025 and was the Minister for Home Affairs and Minister f ...
and Andrew Giles, while retaining his arts minister portfolio and his position as Leader of the House. Burke's previous employment portfolio was gained by Murray Watt
Murray Patrick Watt (born 20 January 1973) is an Australian politician who has served as Minister for the Environment and Water in the Albanese government since May 2025. He is a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and has been a Senat ...
. Watt's agriculture portfolio was given to Julie Collins, which Collins previously held while in opposition
''In Opposition'' was a Canadian television sitcom, which aired on CBC Television in 1989."Some Hon. Members: Yawn; In opposition a political sitcom without politics -- or laughs". ''Ottawa Citizen'', October 24, 1989. The show lasted only a singl ...
. Collins retained her small businesses portfolio while losing the housing and homelessness portfolios to O'Neil.[
Giles succeeded O'Connor as skills minister and remained in the outer ministry. Jenny McAllister was promoted to the outer ministry and was appointed as cities minister and emergency services minister, taking over the latter portfolio from Watt.][
]Kate Thwaites
Kate Lynne Thwaites (born 19 January 1980) is an Australian politician. She is a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and has been a member of the Australian House of Representatives, House of Representatives since the 2019 Australian feder ...
, Josh Wilson and Julian Hill were new additions to the assistant ministry, with Thwaites and Hill having new portfolios, while Wilson succeeded McAllister as assistant climate change minister. McCarthy's previous role as assistant indigenous affairs minister and Brown's previous role as assistant infrastructure and transport minister were not replaced, while McCarthy's role as assistant indigenous health minister was gained by assistant health minister Ged Kearney
Gerardine Mary "Ged" Kearney (born 29 October 1963) is an Australian politician and trade unionist who is the Australian Labor Party (ALP / Labor) member for the federal Division of Cooper. Since 2025, she is serving as Minister for Social Ser ...
. Three other assistant ministers also gained new portfolios in addition to their existing ones: Patrick Gorman as Assistant Minister to the Attorney-General, Tim Ayres as Assistant Minister for a Future Made In Australia, and Anthony Chisholm as Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Matt Thistlethwaite
Matthew James Thistlethwaite (born 6 September 1972) is an Australian politician. He has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives since 2013, representing the electorate of Division of Kingsford Smith, Kin ...
was appointed as Assistant Minister for Immigration, with his previous portfolios removed without replacement.[
The new ministry was sworn in the following day on 29 July 2024.][
In a reshuffle announced on the 16 January 2025 prompted by the retirement of cabinet minister ]Bill Shorten
William Richard Shorten (born 12 May 1967) is an Australian former politician and trade unionist. He was the leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and Leader of the Opposition (Australia), Leader of the Opposition from 2013 to 2019. He also ...
, Anika Wells
Anika Shay Wells (born 11 August 1985) is an Australian politician who has been a member of the Australian House of Representatives, House of Representatives since the 2019 Australian federal election, 2019 federal election. She is a member of t ...
was elevated to cabinet while Shorten's portfolios were given to cabinet ministers Amanda Rishworth (NDIS) and Katy Gallagher
Katherine Ruth Gallagher ( /'gæləhər/ GAL-ə-her; born 18 March 1970) is an Australian politician who has been serving as the Minister for Finance, Minister for Women, Minister for the Public Service and Vice-President of the Executive ...
(Government Services). Outer minister Anne Aly was also given the role of minister assisting the NDIS minister. The reshuffle took effect on 20 January 2025.
Cabinet
Outer ministry
Assistant ministry
Special envoys
Special envoys are additional roles that are not part of the ministry, but have been included here because of their status.[
]
First arrangement (2022–2024)
Albanese announced the composition of the full ministry on 31 May 2022. As Labor frontbenchers Kristina Keneally
Kristina Marie Kerscher Keneally (born 19 December 1968) is an American-born Australian politician who served as the first female Premier of New South Wales from 2009 to 2011 and was later a Labor Senator for New South Wales from February 2018 u ...
and Terri Butler
Terri Megan Butler (born 28 November 1977) is an Australian public servant and former politician. She was a member of the House of Representatives from 2014 to 2022, representing the seat of Griffith for the Australian Labor Party (ALP). She wor ...
lost their seats in the election, Clare O'Neil
Clare Ellen O'Neil (born 12 September 1980) is an Australian politician who is the Minister for Housing and Minister for Homelessness since July 2024, Minister for Cities since May 2025 and was the Minister for Home Affairs and Minister f ...
and Murray Watt
Murray Patrick Watt (born 20 January 1973) is an Australian politician who has served as Minister for the Environment and Water in the Albanese government since May 2025. He is a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and has been a Senat ...
were chosen by Albanese as replacements in cabinet while the caucus chose Anne Aly, Anika Wells
Anika Shay Wells (born 11 August 1985) is an Australian politician who has been a member of the Australian House of Representatives, House of Representatives since the 2019 Australian federal election, 2019 federal election. She is a member of t ...
and Kristy McBain to replace them as ministers. The ministry was sworn in on 1 June 2022.
Tony Sheldon was later appointed on the 24 July 2022 as the Special Envoy for Disaster Recovery while Pat Dodson
Patrick Lionel Djargun Dodson (born 29 January 1948) is an Australian Indigenous rights activist and former politician. He is often referred to as the "father of reconciliation" owing to his commitment to reconciliation in Australia. He was a ...
left his role as Special Envoy for Reconciliation and Implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart when he retired on 26 January 2024. On 31 May 2023, assistant ministers Patrick Gorman and Andrew Leigh were additionally appointed Assistant Minister for the Public Service and Assistant Minister for Employment respectively.
Cabinet
Outer ministry
Assistant ministry
Special envoys
Special envoys are additional roles that are not part of the ministry, but have been included here because of their status.[
]
Initial arrangement
In the interim five-person ministry sworn in on 23 May 2022, Albanese was sworn in as Prime Minister, Labor deputy leader Richard Marles
Richard Donald Marles (born 13 July 1967) is an Australian politician and lawyer serving as the 19th and current deputy prime minister of Australia and the Minister for Defence (Australia), minister for Defence since May 2022. He has been the ...
as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Employment, Jim Chalmers
James Edward Chalmers (born 2 March 1978) is an Australian politician and economist who has been serving as the treasurer of Australia in the Albanese government since May 2022. A member of the Labor Party (ALP), he has been the member of p ...
as Treasurer, Senator Penny Wong
Penelope Ying-Yen Wong (born 5 November 1968) is an Australian politician who is serving as the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate in the Albanese government since 2022. A member of the Australian Labor Pa ...
as Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Senator Katy Gallagher
Katherine Ruth Gallagher ( /'gæləhər/ GAL-ə-her; born 18 March 1970) is an Australian politician who has been serving as the Minister for Finance, Minister for Women, Minister for the Public Service and Vice-President of the Executive ...
as Minister for Finance, Minister for Women, Attorney-General, and Vice-President of the Executive Council. Gallagher would only hold the position of attorney-general for the duration of the interim ministry. The interim ministry would also cover all other portfolios and the sworn-in ministers would be acting ministers for those portfolios. For example, Gallagher and Chalmers were also acting health minister and interim home affairs minister respectively.
Geographical breakdown
Geographic breakdown of the current ministry (), per House of Representatives electorate and state/territory represented in the Senate
A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...
:
See also
* 2022 Australian federal election
The 2022 Australian federal election was held on Saturday, 21 May 2022, to elect members of the 47th Parliament of Australia. The incumbent Morrison government, Liberal–National Coalition government, led by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, soug ...
* Albanese government
The Albanese government is the current federal executive government of Australia, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of the Labor Party. The Albanese government was sworn in on 23 May 2022 by the Governor-General of Australia, David Hurl ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Albanese ministry, 2
2022 establishments in Australia
2022 in Australian politics
2025 disestablishments in Australia
2025 in Australian politics
Australian Commonwealth ministries
Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party ministries
Albanese government
Anthony Albanese
Cabinets disestablished in 2025
Cabinets established in 2022
History of Australia (1945–present)
Ministries of Charles III
Ministries of Elizabeth II