A total of 53 people (49 men and 4 women) served as ministers or parliamentary secretaries in the Hawke governments between 1983 and 1991.
Twenty-four (45.28%) of those ministers have died (23 men, 1 woman).
The Hawke government took office on March 11, 1983, following the ALP’s defeat of the Fraser-led coalition government. Hawke went on to win further elections in 1984, 1987 and 1990. Consequently, there were four Hawke governments. The table below shows which governments each minister served in.
Whereas Whitlam was the first Labor prime minister to win two consecutive elections, Hawke was the first to win three and then four.
Despite a record of electoral success not matched by any other ALP leader, the ALP caucus voted to replace Hawke with Paul Keating on December 19, 1991. The Hawke government ended the following day. Hawke left the parliament two months later. At that stage, he was the nation’s second-longest serving prime minister, a record that was eventually broken by Keating’s successor, John Howard.
The Keating governments constitute the fifth and sixth governments of the Labor years. Following its defeat by the coalition’s John Howard, the ALP left office on March 11, 1996, exactly thirteen years after the first Hawke ministry took office.
The oldest surviving member of the Hawke ministries is John Brown, 92. The youngest is Gary Punch, 67. The ages of all living former members are updated automatically.
The first table shows the twenty-four members (45.28%) of the Hawke executives who have died.
The Hawke Ministers 1983-1991 – Deceased Ministers
- Mick Young – died 08.04.1996 (59)
- Sen. Peter Cook – died 03.12.2005 (62)
- Sen. Bob Collins – died 12.09.2007 (61)
- Sen. John Button – died 08.04.2008 (74)
- Clyde Holding – died 31.07.2011 (80)
- Lionel Bowen – died 01.04.2012 (89)
- Gordon Bilney – died 28.10.2012 (73)
- Sen. Arthur Gietzelt – died 05.01.2014 (93)
- Tom Uren – died 26.01.2015 – (93)
- Sen. Peter Walsh – died 10.04.2015 (80)
- Con Sciacca – died 21.06.2017 (70)
- Barry Cohen – died 18.12.2017 (82)
- Gordon Scholes – died 09.12.2018 (87)
- Bob Hawke – died 16.05.2019 (89)
- Ben Humphreys – died 17.11.2019 (85)
- Sen. Susan Ryan – died 27.09.2020 (77)
- Chris Hurford – died 15.11.2020 (89)
- Sen. Don Grimes – died 20.11.2021 (83)
- Bob Brown – died 30.03.2022 (88)
- John Kerin – died 28.03.2023 (85)
- Stewart West – died 28.03.2023 (88)
- Simon Crean – died 25.06.2023 (74)
- Bill Hayden – died 21.10.2023 (90)
- Gerry Hand – died 15.11.2023 (81)
The second table shows all the members of the four Hawke ministries. Yellow shading indicates which term of government each minister served in. Current ages are updated automatically.
LEGEND:
– C = member of Cabinet
– (Assisting) = Minister Assisting
– (PS) = Parliamentary Secretary
– Portfolio (eg. Finance) = Minister for (Portfolio)
The Hawke Ministers 1983-1991 | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | Name/Seat/Portfolios | Born | Died | Age | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
1.
|
Bob Hawke – Wills, Vic (1980-92) Prime Minister (11.03.1983 – 20.12.1991) Treasurer (03.06.1991 – 04.06.1991) |
09.12.1929
|
16.05.2019
|
89
|
C |
C |
C |
C |
2.
|
Lionel Bowen – Kingsford Smith, NSW (1969-90) Deputy Prime Minister (11.03.1983 – 04.04.1990) Trade (11.03.1983 – 13.12.1984) (Assisting) PM for Commonwealth-State Relations (11.03.1983 – 24.03.1990) Vice President of Executive Council (14.07.1983 – 24.07.1987) Attorney-General (13.12.1984 – 04.04.1990) |
28.12.1922
|
01.04.2012
|
89
|
C |
C |
C |
|
3.
|
Senator John Button – Vic (1974-93) Industry, Technology & Commerce (11.03.1983 – 31.03.1993) Leader of the Government in the Senate (11.03.1983 – 24.03.1993) (Assisting) Communications (11.03.1983 – 13.12.1984) |
30.06.1933
|
08.04.2008
|
74
|
C |
C |
C |
C |
4.
|
Senator Don Grimes – Tas (1969-90) Social Security (11.03.1983 – 13.12.1984) Community Services (13.12.1984 – 16.02.1987) |
04.10.1937
|
20.11.2021
|
83
|
C |
C |
||
5.
|
Ralph Willis – Gellibrand, Vic (1972-98) Employment and Industrial Relations (11.03.1983 – 24.07.1987) (Assisting) PM for Public Service Matters (11.03.1983 – 28.06.1983) (Assisting) PM for Public Service Industrial Matters (28.06.1983 – 24.07.1987) Industrial Relations (24.07.1987 – 02.09.1988) (Assisting) PM for Public Service Matters (24.07.1987 – 02.09.1988) Transport and Communications (02.09.1988 – 04.04.1990) Treasurer (09.12.1991 – 20.12.1991) Finance (04.04.90 – 09.12.1991) |
14.04.1938
|
–
|
86
|
C |
C |
C |
C |
6.
|
Paul Keating – Blaxland, NSW (1969-96) Treasurer (11.03.1983 – 03.06.1991) Deputy Prime Minister (04.04.1990 – 03.06.1991) (Assisting) PM for Commonwealth-State Relations (04.04.1990 – 03.06.1991) |
18.01.1944
|
–
|
80
|
C |
C |
C |
C |
7.
|
Mick Young – Port Adelaide, SA (1974-88) Special Minister of State (11.03.1983 – 14.07.1983) Vice-President of Exeuctive Council (11.03.1983 – 14.07.1983) Special Minister of State (21.01.1984 – 16.02.1987) Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (16.02.1987 – 24.07.1987) Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs (24.07.1987 – 12.02.1988) (Assisting) PM for Multicultural Affairs (24.07.1987 – 12.02.1988) Vice-President of Executive Council (24.07.1987 – 12.02.1988) |
09.10.1936
|
08.04.1996
|
59
|
C |
C |
C |
|
8.
|
Stewart West – Cunningham, NSW (1977-93) Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (11.03.1983 – 13.12.1984) Housing and Construction (13.12.1984 – 24.07.1987) Administrative Services (24.07.1987 – 04.04.1990) |
31.03.1934
|
28.03.2023
|
88
|
C |
C |
||
9.
|
Senator Peter Walsh – WA (1974-93) Resources and Energy (11.03.1983 – 13.12.1984) Finance (13.12.1984 – 04.04.1990) (Assisting) PM for Public Service Matters (13.12.1984 – 24.07.1987) |
11.03.1935
|
10.04.2015
|
80
|
C |
C |
C |
|
10.
|
Bill Hayden – Oxley, Qld (1961-88) Foreign Affairs (11.03.1983 – 24.07.1987) Foreign Affairs and Trade (24.07.1987 – 17.08.1988) |
23.01.1933
|
21.10.2023
|
90
|
C |
C |
C |
|
11.
|
Senator Susan Ryan – ACT (1975-88) Education and Youth Affairs (11.03.1983 – 13.12.1984) (Assisting) PM for Status of Women (11.03.1983 – 19.01.1988) Education (13.12.1984 – 24.07.1987) Special Minister of State (24.07.1987 – 19.01.1988) (Assisting) PM for the Bicentennial (24.07.1987 – 19.01.1988) (Assisting) Community Services and Health (24.07.1987 – 19.01.1988) |
10.10.1942
|
27.09.2020
|
77
|
C |
C |
C |
|
12.
|
Senator Gareth Evans – Vic (1978-96); Holt, Vic (1996-99) Attorney-General (11.03.1983 – 13.12.1984) (Assisting) Prime Minister (13.12.1984 – 24.07.1987) (Assisting) Foreign Affairs (13.12.1984 – 24.07.1987) Resources and Energy (13.12.1984 – 24.07.1987) Transport and Communications (24.07.1987 – 02.09.1988) Foreign Affairs and Trade (02.09.1988 – 20.12.1991) |
05.09.1944
|
–
|
80
|
C |
C |
C |
C |
13.
|
Gordon Scholes – Corio, Vic (1967-93) Defence (11.03.1983 – 13.12.1984) Territories (13.12.1984 – 24.07.1987) |
07.06.1931
|
09.12.2018
|
87
|
C |
|||
14.
|
John Dawkins – Tangney, WA (1964-75); Fremantle, WA (1977-94) Finance (11.03.1983 – 13.12.1984) (Assisting) PM for Public Service Matters (28.06.1983 – 13.12.1984) (Assisting) PM for Youth Affairs (13.12.1984 – 24.07.1987) Trade (13.12.1984 – 24.07.1987) Employment, Education and Training (24.07.1987 – 20.12.1991) |
02.03.1947
|
–
|
77
|
C |
C |
C |
C |
15.
|
John Kerin – Macarthur, NSW (1972-75); Werriwa, NSW (1978-93) Primary Industry (11.03.1983 – 24.07.1987) Primary Industries and Energy (24.07.1987 – 04.06.1991) Treasurer (04.06.1991 – 09.12.1991) Transport and Communications (09.12.1991 – 20.12.1991) |
21.11.1937
|
28.03.2023
|
85
|
C |
C |
C |
C |
16.
|
Kim Beazley – Swan, WA (1980-96); Brand, WA (1996-2007) Aviation (11.03.1983 – 13.12.1984) (Assisting) Defence (11.03.1983 – 13.12.1984) Special Minister of State (14.07.1983 – 21.01.1984) Defence (13.12.1984 – 04.04.1990) Vice-President of Executive Council (15.02.1988 – 01.02.1991) Transport and Communications (04.04.1990 – 09.12.1991) Finance (09.12.1991 – 2012.1991) |
14.12.1948
|
–
|
75
|
C |
C |
C |
|
17.
|
Neal Blewett – Bonython, SA (1977-94) Health (11.03.1983 – 24.07.1987) Community Services and Health (24.07.1987 – 04.04.1990) Trade Negotiations (04.04.1990 – 01.02.1991) Trade and Overseas Development (04.04.1990 – 01.02.1991) (Assisting) Industry, Technology and Commerce (04.04.1990 – 20.12.1991) (Assisting) Primary Industries and Energy (04.04.1990 – 20.12.1991) |
24.10.1933
|
–
|
91
|
C |
C |
||
18.
|
John Brown – Parramatta, NSW (1977-90) Sport, Recreation and Tourism (11.03.1983 – 24.07.1987) (Assisting) Industry and Commerce (11.03.1983 – 13.12.1984) (Assisting) Defence (13.12.1984 – 24.07.1987) Arts, Sport, the Environment, Tourism and Territories (24.07.1987 – 18.12.1987) |
19.12.1931
|
–
|
92
|
C |
|||
19.
|
Barry Cohen – Robertson, NSW (1969-90) Home Affairs and Environment (11.03.1983 – 13.12.1984) Arts, Heritage & the Environment (13.12.1984 – 24.07.1987) (Assisting) PM for the Bicentennial (13.12.1984 – 24.07.1987) |
03.04.1935
|
18.12.2017
|
82
|
||||
20.
|
Michael Duffy – Holt, Vic (1980-96) Communications (11.03.1983 – 24.07.1987) (Assisting) Defence (13.12.1984 – 24.07.1987) Trade Negotiations (24.07.1987 – 04.04.1990) (Assisting) Industry, Technology and Commerce (24.07.1987 – 04.04.1990) (Assisting) Primary Industries and Energy (24.07.1987 – 04.04.1990) Attorney-General (04.04.1990 – 20.12.1991) |
02.03.1938
|
–
|
86
|
C |
C |
||
21.
|
Senator Arthur Gietzelt – NSW (1971-89) Veterans’ Affairs (11.03.1983 – 24.07.1987) |
28.12.1920
|
05.01.2014
|
93
|
||||
22.
|
Clyde Holding – Melbourne Ports, Vic (1977-98) Aboriginal Affairs (11.03.1983 – 24.07.1987) Employment Services and Youth Affairs (24.07.1987 – 19.01.1988) (Assisting) Treasurer (24.07.1987 – 15.02.1988) Transport and Communication Support (19.01.1988 – 15.02.1988) Immigration, Local Govt & Ethnic Affairs (15.02.1988 – 02.09.1988) (Assisting) PM for Multicultural Affairs (15.02.1988 – 02.09.1988) Arts and Territories (02.09.1988 – 22.05.1989) (Assisting) Prime Minister (02.09.1988 – 04.04.1990) (Assisting) Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs (02.09.1988 – 04.04.1990) Arts, Tourism and Territories (22.05.1989 – 04.04.1990) |
27.04.1931
|
31.07.2011
|
80
|
C |
|||
23.
|
Brian Howe – Batman, Vic (1977-96) Defence Support (11.03.1983 – 13.12.1984) Social Security (13.12.1984 – 04.04.1990) (Assisting) PM for Social Justice (02.09.1988 – 04.04.1990) Deputy Prime Minister (03.06.1991 – 20.12.1991) Community Services and Health (04.04.1990 – 07.06.1991) (Assisting) PM for Social Justice (04.04.1990 – 20.12.1991) (Assisting) PM for Commonwealth-State Relations (04.06.1991 – 20.12.1991) Health, Housing and Community Services (07.06.1991 – 20.12.1991) |
23.01.1936
|
–
|
88
|
C |
C |
C |
|
24.
|
Chris Hurford – Adelaide, SA (1969-87) Housing and Construction (11.03.1983 – 13.12.1984) (Assisting) Treasurer (11.03.1983 – 24.07.1987) Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (13.12.1984 – 16.02.1987) Community Services (16.02.1987 – 24.07.1987) |
30.07.1931
|
15.11.2020
|
89
|
C |
|||
25.
|
Barry Jones – Lalor, Vic (1977-98) Science and Technology (11.03.1983 – 13.12.1984) (Assisting) Industry, Technology & Commerce (13.12.1984 – 24.07.1987) Science (13.12.1984 – 24.07.1987) Science and Small Business (24.07.1987 – 19.01.1988) Science, Customs and Small Business (19.01.1988 – 04.04.1990) (Assisting) PM for Science and Technology (08.05.1989 – 04.04.1990) |
11.10.1932
|
–
|
92
|
||||
26.
|
Peter Morris – Shortland, NSW (1972-98) Transport (11.03.1983 – 24.07.1987) Aviation (13.12.1984 – 24.07.1987) Resources (24.07.1987 – 19.01.1988) Housing and Aged Care (19.01.1988 – 15.02.1988) (Assisting) Prime Minister (19.01.1988 – 02.09.1988) Transport and Communication Support (15.02.1988 – 02.09.1988) (Assisting) Treasurer (15.02.1988 – 04.04.1990) Industrial Relations (02.09.1988 – 04.04.1990) (Assisting) PM for Public Service Matters (02.09.1988 – 04.04.1990) |
29.07.1932
|
–
|
92
|
C |
|||
27.
|
Tom Uren – Reid, NSW (1958-90) Territories and Local Government (11.03.1983 – 13.12.1984) (Assisting) PM for Community Development & Regional Affairs (11.03.1983 – 13.12.1984) Local Government & Administrative Services (13.12.1984 – 24.07.1987) |
28.05.1921
|
26.01.2015
|
93
|
||||
28.
|
Senator Michael Tate – Tas (1978-93) Special Minister of State (16.02.1987 – 24.07.1987) (PS) Justice (24.07.1987 – 18.09.1987) Justice (18.09.1987 – 04.04.1990) Justice and Consumer Affairs (04.04.1990 – 20.12.1991) |
06.07.1945
|
–
|
79
|
||||
29.
|
Senator Graham Richardson – NSW (1983-94) Environment and the Arts (24.07.1987 – 19.01.1988) Arts, Sport, the Environment, Tourism and Territories (19.01.1988 – 04.04.1990) Vice-President of Executive Council (01.02.1991 – 20.12.1991) Social Security (04.04.1990 – 20.12.1991) |
27.09.1949
|
–
|
75
|
C |
C |
||
30.
|
Senator Robert Ray – Vic (1981-2008) Home Affairs (24.07.1987 – 02.09.1988) (Assisting) Transport and Communications (19.01.1988 – 02.09.1988) Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs (02.09.1988 – 04.04.1990) (Assisting) PM for Multicultural Affairs (02.09.1988 – 04.04.1990) Defence (04.04.1990 – 20.12.1991) |
08.04.1947
|
–
|
77
|
C |
C |
||
31.
|
Peter Duncan – Makin, SA (1984-96) Land Transport and Infrastructure Support (24.07.1987 – 19.01.1988) Employment and Education Services (19.01.1988 – 04.04.1990) |
01.01.1945
|
–
|
79
|
||||
32.
|
Gerry Hand – Melbourne, Vic (1983-93) Aboriginal Affairs (24.07.1987 – 04.04.1990) Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs (04.04.1990 – 20.12.1991) (Assisting) PM for Multicultural Affairs (04.04.1990 – 20.12.1991) |
30.06.1942
|
15.11.2023
|
81
|
C |
|||
33.
|
Ben Humphreys – Griffith, Qld (1977-96) Veterans’ Affairs (24.07.1987 – 20.12.1991) |
17.08.1934
|
17.11.2019
|
85
|
||||
34.
|
Ros Kelly – Canberra, ACT (1980-95) (PS) Defence Science and Personnel (24.07.1987 – 18.09.1987) Defence Science and Personnel (18.09.1987 – 06.04.1989) Telecommunications and Aviation Support (06.04.1989 – 04.04.1990) Arts, Sport, the Environment, Tourisn and Territories (04.04.1990 – 20.12.1991) |
25.01.1948
|
–
|
76
|
C |
|||
35.
|
Senator Margaret Reynolds – Qld (1983-99) (PS) Local Government (24.07.1987 – 18.09.1987) Local Government (18.09.1987 – 04.04.1990) (Assisting) PM for Status of Women (19.01.1988 – 04.04.1990) |
19.07.1941
|
–
|
83
|
||||
36.
|
Peter Staples – Diamond Valley, Vic (1983-84); Jagajaga, Vic (1984-96) Consumer Affairs (24.07.1987 – 15.02.1988) (Assisting) Treasurer for Prices (24.07.1987 – 15.02.1988) Housing and Aged Care (15.02.1988 – 07.05.1990) Aged, Family and Health Services (07.05.1990 – 20.12.1991) |
15.10.1947
|
–
|
77
|
||||
37.
|
Senator Peter Cook – WA (1983-2005) Resources (19.01.1988 – 04.04.1990) Industrial Relations (04.04.1990 – 20.12.1991) (Assisting) PM for Public Service Matters (04.40.1990 – 20.12.1991) |
08.11.1943
|
03.12.2005
|
62
|
C |
|||
38.
|
Gary Punch – Barton, NSW (1983-96) Arts and Territories (19.01.1988 – 02.09.1988) Telecommunications and Aviation Support (02.09.1988 – 28.03.1989) |
21.08.1957
|
–
|
67
|
||||
39.
|
Senator Nick Bolkus – SA (1981-2005) Consumer Affairs (15.02.1988 – 04.04.1990) (Assisting) Treasurer for Prices (15.02.1988 – 04.04.1990) Administrative Services (04.04.1990 – 20.12.1991) |
17.07.1950
|
–
|
74
|
C |
|||
40.
|
Bob Brown – Hunter, NSW (1980-84); Charlton, NSW (1984-98) Land Transport and Shipping Support (02.09.1988 – 04.04.1990) Land Transport (04.04.1990 – 20.12.1991) |
02.12.1933
|
30.03.2022
|
88
|
||||
41.
|
David Simmons – Calare, NSW (1983-96) Defence Science and Personnel (06.04.1989 – 04.04.1990) Arts, Tourism and Territories (04.04.1990 – 20.12.1991) |
07.11.1947
|
–
|
77
|
||||
42.
|
Simon Crean – Hotham, Vic (1990-2013) Science and Technology (04.04.1990 – 04.06.1991) (Assisting) Treasurer (04.04.1990 – 04.06.1991) (Assisting) PM for Science (04.04.1990 – 04.06.1991) Primary Industries and Energy (04.06.1991 – 20.12.1991) |
26.02.1949
|
25.06.2023
|
74
|
||||
43.
|
Peter Baldwin – Sydney, NSW (1983-98) Employment and Education Services (04.04.1990 – 07.05.1990) Higher Education and Employment Services (07.05.1990 – 20.12.1991) |
12.04.1951
|
–
|
73
|
||||
44.
|
David Beddall – Fadden, Qld (1983-84); Rankin, Qld (1984-98) Small Business and Customs (04.04.1990 – 20.12.1991) |
27.11.1948
|
–
|
76
|
||||
45.
|
Gordon Bilney – Kingston, SA (1983-96) Defence Science and Personnel (04.04.1990 – 20.12.1991) |
21.06.1939
|
28.10.2012
|
73
|
||||
46.
|
Senator Bob Collins – NT (1987-98) Shipping (04.04.1990 – 07.05.1990) Shipping and Aviation Support (07.05.1990 – 20.12.1991) (Assisting) PM for Northern Australia (04.04.1990 – 20.12.1991) |
08.02.1946
|
21.09.2007
|
61
|
||||
47.
|
Wendy Fatin – Canning, WA (1983-84); Brand, WA (1984-96) Local Government (04.04.1990 – 20.12.1991) (Assisting) PM for the Status of Women (04.04.1990 – 20.12.1991) |
10.04.1941
|
–
|
83
|
||||
48.
|
Alan Griffiths – Maribyrnong, Vic (1983-96) Resources (04.04.1990 – 20.12.1991) |
04.09.1952
|
–
|
72
|
||||
49.
|
Robert Tickner – Hughes, NSW (1984-96) Aboriginal Affairs (04.04.1990 – 19.12.1991) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs (19.12.1991 – 20.12.1991) (Assisting) PM for Reconciliation (21.02.1991 – 20.12.1991) |
24.12.1951
|
–
|
72
|
||||
50.
|
Ross Free – Macquarie, NSW (1980-84); Lindsay, NSW (1984-96) (PS) Prime Minister (04.04.1990 – 04.06.1991) Science and Technology (04.06.1991 – 20.12.1991) (Assisting) Treasurer (04.06.1991 – 20.12.1991) (Assisting) PM for Science (04.06.1991 – 20.12.1991) |
07.03.1943
|
–
|
81
|
||||
51.
|
Roger Price – Chifley, NSW (1984-2010) (PS) Prime Minister (04.04.1990 – 20.12.1991) |
26.11.1945
|
–
|
79
|
||||
52.
|
Warren Snowdon – Northern Territory, NT (1987-96); and (1998-2001); Lingiari, NT (2001-) (PS) Transport and Communications (04.04.1990 – 20.12.1991) |
30.03.1950
|
–
|
74
|
||||
53.
|
Con Sciacca – Bowman, Qld (1987-96); and (1998-2004) (PS) Social Security (04.04.1990 – 20.12.1991) |
13.06.1947
|
21.06.2017
|
70
|