Who is the social services minister? Federal and every state
Current social services ministers for Australia and every state and territory, with office addresses and shadow ministers. Write to any of them online.
Australia has nine parliaments: the federal parliament and one for each state and territory. Each government decides its own ministry, so the social services portfolio has a different name, and sometimes a different minister, in each one. 6 of the nine currently have a minister whose title covers social services. This page lists them, their shadows, and the other ministers who share the work, with addresses from each parliament's official records.
Social Services and Communities ministers at a glance
| Parliament | Name | Portfolio | Office mailing address | Write |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal | Tanya PlibersekALP · Member for Sydney | Minister for Social Services | PO Box 6022, House of Representatives, Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600Parliament House | Write |
| New South Wales | Kate WashingtonALP · Member for Port Stephens | Minister for Families and CommunitiesAlso: Minister for Disability Inclusion | PO Box 82, Raymond Terrace NSW 2324Electorate office | Write |
| Western Australia | Matthew SwinbournALP · Member of the Legislative Council | Minister for Community ServicesAlso: Minister for the Environment; Minister for Climate Resilience; Minister for Homelessness | PO Box 390, Maddington WA 6989Electorate office | Write |
| South Australia | Katrine HildyardALP · Member for Reynell | Minister for Human ServicesAlso: Minister for Seniors and Ageing Well; Minister for Women | 114 Beach Road, Christies Beach SA 5165Electorate office | Write |
| Australian Capital Territory | Caitlin ToughALP · Member for Brindabella | Minister for Community ServicesAlso: Minister for Human Rights; Minister for Corrections; Minister for Women, Seniors and Veterans; Minister for the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence | GPO Box 1020, Canberra ACT 2601Parliament House | Write |
| Northern Territory | Steve EdgingtonCLP · Member for Barkly | Minister for Housing, Local Government and Community DevelopmentAlso: Minister for Health; Minister for Mental Health; Minister for Alcohol Policy; Minister for Aboriginal Affairs; Minister for Essential Services | PO Box 796, Tennant Creek NT 0861Electorate office | Write |
No minister in Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania has social services in their title right now. There, the work usually sits with another minister (see "Also relevant" below), or it isn't a responsibility of that level of government.
Federal addresses are for Parliament House, where portfolio mail should go. State and territory addresses are the minister's electorate office, which passes portfolio mail on.
Names, roles and addresses on this page come from each parliament's official member lists. Data checked 20 October 2026.
Federal or state: who's responsible for social services?
Income support such as JobSeeker, the Age Pension and Carer Payment is federal, delivered through Services Australia. State and territory community services ministers typically fund local community organisations, concessions, and services for people in crisis. Portfolio names vary a lot between states.
If you're not sure which level handles your issue, write to your own local member as well. Their office can pass your letter to the right minister.
Social Services and Communities ministers by parliament
Federal social services minister
The Minister for Social Services in the federal government is Tanya Plibersek (ALP, Member for Sydney). Write to them at PO Box 6022, House of Representatives, Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600.
In opposition, Melissa McIntosh (LIB) is Shadow Minister for Families and Social Services.
New South Wales social services minister
The Minister for Families and Communities in New South Wales is Kate Washington (ALP, Member for Port Stephens), who is also Minister for Disability Inclusion. Write to them at PO Box 82, Raymond Terrace NSW 2324.
In opposition, Natasha Maclaren-Jones (LIB) is Shadow Minister for Families and Communities.
Western Australia social services minister
The Minister for Community Services in Western Australia is Matthew Swinbourn (ALP, Member of the Legislative Council), who is also Minister for the Environment, Minister for Climate Resilience and Minister for Homelessness. Write to them at PO Box 390, Maddington WA 6989.
In opposition, Steve Martin (LIB) is Shadow Minister for Communities.
South Australia social services minister
The Minister for Human Services in South Australia is Katrine Hildyard (ALP, Member for Reynell), who is also Minister for Seniors and Ageing Well and Minister for Women. Write to them at 114 Beach Road, Christies Beach SA 5165.
In opposition, Michelle Lensink (LIB) is Shadow Minister for Human Services.
Australian Capital Territory social services minister
The Minister for Community Services in the Australian Capital Territory is Caitlin Tough (ALP, Member for Brindabella), who is also Minister for Human Rights, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Women, Seniors and Veterans and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence. Write to them at GPO Box 1020, Canberra ACT 2601.
In opposition, Peter Cain (LIB) is Shadow Minister for Community Services.
Northern Territory social services minister
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Community Development in the Northern Territory is Steve Edgington (CLP, Member for Barkly), who is also Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Alcohol Policy, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Minister for Essential Services. Write to them at PO Box 796, Tennant Creek NT 0861.
In opposition, Ed Smelt (ALP) is Shadow Minister for Housing, Local Government and Community Development.
Shadow social services ministers and spokespeople
A shadow minister leads the opposition's policy on social services and questions the government in parliament. Write to them when you want an issue raised publicly, or want to know what the alternative government would do. Crossbench spokespeople, such as the Greens in some parliaments, are listed too.
| Parliament | Name | Portfolio | Write |
|---|---|---|---|
| FederalOpposition | Melissa McIntoshLIB · Member for Lindsay | Shadow Minister for Families and Social ServicesAlso: Shadow Minister for Women; Shadow Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme | Write |
| New South WalesOpposition | Natasha Maclaren-JonesLIB · Member of the Legislative Council | Shadow Minister for Families and CommunitiesAlso: Shadow Minister for Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault; Shadow Minister for Disability Inclusion; Shadow Minister for Homelessness; Shadow Minister for Youth | Write |
| QueenslandOpposition | Corrine McMillanALP · Member for Mansfield | Shadow Minister for Child Safety, Communities and the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence | Write |
| Western AustraliaOpposition | Steve MartinLIB · Member of the Legislative Council | Shadow Minister for CommunitiesAlso: Shadow Minister for Transport; Shadow Minister for Ports; Shadow Minister for Small Business | Write |
| South AustraliaOpposition | Michelle LensinkLIB · Member of the Legislative Council | Shadow Minister for Human ServicesAlso: Shadow Minister for Women; Shadow Minister for Seniors and Ageing Well; Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs | Write |
| TasmaniaOpposition | Jess GreeneALP · Member for Bass | Shadow Minister for Community ServicesAlso: Shadow Minister for Children & Young People; Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs | Write |
| Australian Capital TerritoryOpposition | Peter CainLIB · Member for Ginninderra | Shadow Minister for Community ServicesAlso: Shadow Minister for City Services; Shadow Minister for Government Services; Shadow Minister for Veterans; Shadow Minister for Seniors; Shadow Minister for Disability | Write |
| Northern TerritoryOpposition | Ed SmeltALP · Member for Nightcliff | Shadow Minister for Housing, Local Government and Community DevelopmentAlso: Deputy Leader of the Opposition; Shadow Minister for Community Safety; Shadow Attorney-General and Justice; Shadow Minister for Corrections; Shadow Minister for Prevention of Domestic Violence; Shadow Minister for Alcohol Policy; Shadow Minister for Racing; Shadow Minister for Housing Construction; Shadow Minister for Lands and Planning; Shadow Minister for Logistics and Infrastructure; Shadow Minister for Essential Services; Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Renewables | Write |
| VictoriaCrossbench | Anasina Gray-BarberioGRN · Member for Northern Metropolitan Region | Spokesperson for Community ServicesAlso: Spokesperson for Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism; Spokesperson for Women, Gender Equality and Family Violence; Spokesperson for Child Protection; Spokesperson for Disability Rights and Services; Spokesperson for Ageing; Spokesperson for Sport; Spokesperson for Early Childhood Education and Kinder | Write |
| VictoriaCrossbench | Sarah MansfieldGRN · Member for Western Victoria Region | Spokesperson for Rural and Regional CommunitiesAlso: Spokesperson for Mental Health; Spokesperson for Agriculture; Spokesperson for Water; Spokesperson for Local Government; Spokesperson for Health; Spokesperson for Sustainable Cities and Planning | Write |
| TasmaniaCrossbench | Cecily RosolGRN · Member for Bass | Greens Spokesperson for Community ServicesAlso: Greens Spokesperson for Health and Mental Health; Greens Spokesperson for Children and Young People; Greens Spokesperson for Corrections and Rehabilitation; Greens Spokesperson for Disability Services; Greens Spokesperson for Local Government; Greens Spokesperson for Preventative Health; Greens Spokesperson for Waste; Greens Spokesperson for Women | Write |
See every opposition frontbench on the list of shadow ministers.
Also relevant
Assistant ministers, parliamentary secretaries and ministers for closely related areas. If your issue is about one of these areas, they may be the better person to write to, or you can copy them in.
| Parliament | Name | Portfolio | Write |
|---|---|---|---|
| FederalGovernment | Ged KearneyALP · Member for Cooper | Assistant Minister for Social Services | Write |
| New South WalesOpposition | Tina AyyadLIB · Member for Holsworthy | Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Families & Communities | Write |
| New South WalesGovernment | Liesl TeschALP · Member for Gosford | Parliamentary Secretary for Families and Communities | Write |
| VictoriaOpposition | Jade BenhamNAT · Member for Mildura | Shadow Minister for Disability, Ageing, Carers and Volunteers | Write |
| VictoriaGovernment | Luba GrigorovitchALP · Member for Kororoit | Minister for Carers and Volunteers | Write |
| Western AustraliaGovernment | Kim GiddensALP · Member for Bateman | Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment, Climate Resilience, Community Services, Homelessness | Write |
| Australian Capital TerritoryCrossbench | Rebecca VassarottiGRN · Member for Kurrajong | Spokesperson for Ageing and Carers | Write |
| Northern TerritoryOpposition | Chanston PaechALP · Member for Gwoja | Shadow Minister for Carers | Write |
How to address a letter to a minister
Address the envelope to the minister by name and title, then their office address. Inside, open with Dear Minister. Only write "The Hon" if the minister holds that title; some state ministers do not. The address blocks on each politician page already use the right form. For more detail, see how to address a letter to an MP.
The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives, Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Dear Ms Plibersek,
- Keep to one issue, and say exactly which program, service or decision you mean.
- Say what you want the minister to do, in one sentence.
- Include your full postal address so the office can reply.
- A short personal story carries more weight than statistics the department already has.
Write to a social services minister now
Pick a minister from the table above and press Write. Better Letters prints your signed letter and posts it for you, or you can download the PDF free and post it yourself. A printed, signed letter is harder to set aside than an email.
Write to a social services minister
$3.95 a letter, printed on 100% recycled paper, signed with your signature and posted via Australia Post. Or download the PDF free and post it yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the federal social services minister?+
The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP (ALP) is the Minister for Social Services in the federal government.
Who is the social services minister in New South Wales?+
The Hon Kate Washington MP, BA, LLB (ALP) is the Minister for Families and Communities in New South Wales, and also Minister for Disability Inclusion.
Who is the social services minister in Western Australia?+
The Hon Matthew Swinbourn MLC (ALP) is the Minister for Community Services in Western Australia, and also Minister for the Environment, Minister for Climate Resilience and Minister for Homelessness.
Who is the social services minister in South Australia?+
The Hon Katrine Hildyard MP (ALP) is the Minister for Human Services in South Australia, and also Minister for Seniors and Ageing Well and Minister for Women.
Who is the social services minister in the Australian Capital Territory?+
Ms Caitlin Tough MLA (ALP) is the Minister for Community Services in the Australian Capital Territory, and also Minister for Human Rights, Minister for Corrections and Minister for Women, Seniors and Veterans.
Who is the social services minister in the Northern Territory?+
The Hon Steve Edgington MLA (CLP) is the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Community Development in the Northern Territory, and also Minister for Health, Minister for Mental Health and Minister for Alcohol Policy.
Who is the shadow social services minister?+
Federally, Mrs Melissa McIntosh MP (LIB) is the Shadow Minister for Families and Social Services. Oppositions in 8 of Australia's nine parliaments have a shadow minister covering social services, all listed on this page.
Should I write to the federal or state social services minister?+
Income support such as JobSeeker, the Age Pension and Carer Payment is federal, delivered through Services Australia. State and territory community services ministers typically fund local community organisations, concessions, and services for people in crisis. Portfolio names vary a lot between states.
How do I contact the social services minister?+
Write a letter. Address the envelope to the minister by name and title, followed by their office address, and open with "Dear Minister". Federal ministers can be written to at Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600. State and territory ministers can be written to at their electorate office, which passes portfolio mail on to their ministerial office.