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 Department	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.