Australian Cabinet

The Australian Cabinet is the council of senior ministers, responsible to parliament. The Cabinet is appointed by the Prime Minister and serve at his pleasure, although officially the Governor General controls their appointments. The Cabinet meets once a week to discuss vital issues. Outside of the cabinet there are a number of junior ministers, responsible for a specific policy area and reporting directly to a senior minister.

Present Australian Cabinet

Note: Ministers marked with (NAT) are representatives of the National Party of Australia. All others are from the Liberal Party of Australia

Prime Minister: John Howard
Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for Transport and Regional Services: John Anderson (NAT)
Treasurer: Peter Costello
Minister for Trade: Mark Vaile (NAT)
Minister for Foreign Affairs: Alexander Downer
Attorney General: Philip Ruddock
Minister for Defence & Government Senate Leader: Senator Robert Hill
Minister for Employment, Workplace Relations & Small Business: Kevin Andrews
Minister for Finance & Administration & Government Deputy Senate Leader: Senator Nick Minchin
Minister for Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs: Senator Amanda Vanstone
Minister for Industry, Tourism & Resources: Ian Macfarlane
Minister for Health & Aging: Tony Abbott
Minister for Education, Science & Youth Affairs: Dr. Brendan Nelson
Minister for Environment & Heritage: Dr. David Kemp
Minister for Communications & Information Technology: Daryl Williams
Minister for Family & Community Services: Senator Kay Patterson
Minister for Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries: Warren Truss (NAT)