Evans was Leader of the Government in the Senate from 1993 to 1996. He served as a cabinet minister in the Hawke and Keating governments from 1983 to 1996 as Attorney-General (1983–1984), Minister for Resources and Energy (1984–1987), Minister for Transport and Communications (1987–1988) and most notably as Minister for Foreign Affairs (1988–1996). He was also a member of the House of Representatives for the Division of Holt from 1996 to 1999. He was the deputy leader of the Labor Party and the Opposition from 1998 to 1999.