Department of Aboriginal Affairs

Department of Aboriginal Affairs
Department overview
Formed	19 December 1972
Preceding Department	Department of the Environment, Aborigines and the Arts;
Dissolved	5 March 1990
Superseding agency	Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission;
Jurisdiction	Commonwealth of Australia
Headquarters	Canberra
Ministers responsible	Gordon Bryant, Minister (1972–1973); Jim Cavanagh, Minister (1973–1975); Les Johnson, Minister (1975); Tom Drake-Brockman, Minister (1975); Ian Viner, Minister (1975–1978); Fred Chaney, Minister (1978–1980); Peter Baume, Minister (1980–1982); Ian Wilson, Minister (1982–1983); Clyde Holding, Minister (1983–1987); Gerry Hand, Minister (1987–1990);
Department executives	Lenox Hewitt, Secretary (1972–1973); Barrie Dexter, Secretary (1973–1977); David Hay, Secretary (1977–1979); Tony Ayers, Secretary (1979–1981); John Taylor, Secretary (1981–1984); Charles Perkins, Secretary (1984–1988); Bill Gray, Secretary (1988–1990);

The Department of Aboriginal Affairs was an Australian government department that existed between December 1972 and March 1990.

Department overview
Formed	19 December 1972^[1]
Preceding Department	Department of the Environment, Aborigines and the Arts
Dissolved	5 March 1990^[1]
Superseding agency	Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission
Jurisdiction	Commonwealth of Australia
Headquarters	Canberra
Ministers responsible	Gordon Bryant, Minister (1972–1973) Jim Cavanagh, Minister (1973–1975) Les Johnson, Minister (1975) Tom Drake-Brockman, Minister (1975) Ian Viner, Minister (1975–1978) Fred Chaney, Minister (1978–1980) Peter Baume, Minister (1980–1982) Ian Wilson, Minister (1982–1983) Clyde Holding, Minister (1983–1987) Gerry Hand, Minister (1987–1990)
Department executives	Lenox Hewitt, Secretary (1972–1973) Barrie Dexter, Secretary (1973–1977) David Hay, Secretary (1977–1979) Tony Ayers, Secretary (1979–1981) John Taylor, Secretary (1981–1984) Charles Perkins, Secretary (1984–1988) Bill Gray, Secretary (1988–1990)