Agency number |
CA 1490 |
Title |
Department of the Special Minister of State [I], Central Office |
Institution title |
Department of the Special Minister of State |
Date range |
19 Dec 1972 - 22 Dec 1975 |
Series recorded by this agency |
Series |
Organisation controlling |
|
Location |
Australian Capital Territory |
Agency status |
Department of State |
Function |
19 Dec 1972 - 22 Dec 1975 19 Dec 1972 - 22 Dec 1975 19 Dec 1972 - 22 Dec 1975 19 Dec 1972 - 22 Dec 1975 19 Dec 1972 - 22 Dec 1975 19 Dec 1972 - 22 Dec 1975 19 Dec 1972 - 22 Dec 1975 19 Dec 1972 - 22 Dec 1975 19 Dec 1972 - 22 Dec 1975 30 Nov 1973 - 22 Dec 1975 12 Jun 1974 - 06 Jun 1975 01 Oct 1974 - 22 Dec 1975 02 Oct 1974 - 22 Dec 1975
|
Agency note |
This department was created by the Executive Council on 19 December 1972 in pursuance of Section 64 of the Consitution of the
(Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No 129A, 19 December 1972, p 1.)
Under the provisions of the Administrative Arrangements of 20 December 1972, (published in Commonwealth Gazette, No 131, 20 December 1972, p 10) the principal matters dealt with by the new Department of Special Minister of State [I] were:
National Archives
National Library
Royal Charters
War Graves
Grants to National organisations
World Expositions
Commonwealth Gazette and Commonwealth Directory
Administration of the following legislation was allcated to the new portfolio by those Arrangements:
Australian War Graves Act 1962-66
Commonwealth Grants Commission Act 1933-1966
Flags Act 1953-1954
National Library Act 1960-1967
Public Accounts Committee Act 1969-1972
Royal Commissions Act 1902-1966
The following press release was issued at the time of the creation of the new Department:
"To assist the Prime Minister in his heavy duties, it has been
decided to appoint a new Minister - the Special Minister of State -
who will also be appointed as Vice President of the Executive
Council.
The main duties of the Special Minister of State will be to assist
the Prime Minister in the working of Cabinet and its committees and
in the discharge of his Departmental functions. It is intended that
the Special Minister will chair meetings of Cabinet committees and
will keep the Prime Minister informed of important developments. He
will also assist the Prime Minister in administration of matters
relating to the arts, by administering the National Archives and by
attending to such matters as honours and awards and grants to
national organisations.
Although every effort has been made to place with Ministers and
their Departments, all possible responsibilities within their own
portfolios, there are certain matters over which it is desirable for
the Prime Minister to maintain control. The Special Minister will
assist him in these, to the extent that it is possible for the Prime
Minister to devolve them on him.
The Department of the Special Minister of State will have assigned
to it certain of the functions normally associated with the Prime
Minister which he considers it appropriate to transfer from his own
Department. It will also acquire other duties as these are assigned
by the Prime Minister to the Special Minister.
The Special Minister will also assist the Prime Minister in his role
as Foreign Minister, especially in matters of foreign aid."
(From Ministerial Press Release, 'New Departments: summary of main
functions and brief notes').
The Department was abolished on 22 December 1975 by Executive Council Meeting No 119, Public Service Board Minute No 1975/58 (notified in Australian Government Gazette, No S262, 22 December 1975)
Ministers for the Department were:
19 Dec 1972 - 30 Nov 1973 : Senator the Hon Donald Robert Willesee
(CP 108)
30 Nov 1973 - 6 Jun 1975 : Hon Lionel Frost Bowen
6 Jun 1975 - 1 Nov 1975 : Senator the Hon Douglas McClelland
(CP 130)
11 Nov 1975 - 22 Dec 1975 : Senator the Hon Reginald Grieve Withers
(CP 177)
Secretaries to the Department were:
19 Dec 1972 - 9 Jan 1973 : Sir John E Bunting (Acting) (CP 91)
9 Jan 1973 - 22 Dec 1975 : P J Lawler
Historical agency address 1972-by1973: 4th floor, National Library, Canberra
by1973- 1975: East Block, Canberra
|
Previous agency |
19 Dec 1972 CA 1407, Department of the Environment, Aborigines and the Arts, Central Office - for electoral activities, overseas visits, government gazette 20 Dec 1972 CA 1401, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet - For grants, flags royal charters 30 Nov 1973 CA 1284, Department of External Territories [II], Central Office - For Cocos (Keeling) and Christmas Islands 12 Jun 1974 CA 1481, Department of the Media, Central Office - For purchasing policy 12 Jun 1974 CA 57, Department of Supply, Central Office - For Australian Government purchasing policy 01 Oct 1974 CA 11, Department of the Treasury [I], Central Office - for statistics 01 Oct 1974 CA 1401, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet - For statutory salaries, allowances and remuneration
|
Subsequent agency |
-
CA 2311, Australian Exhibit Organisation, Central Office, Canberra - ? 01 Jan 1973 CA 2309, Australian Exhibit Organisation, EXPO '74 (Spokane, U.S.A.), Canberra Office 12 Jun 1974 CA 1401, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet - Priorities Review staff 06 Jun 1975 CA 1488, Department of Services and Property, Central Office - For Australian Government purchasing policy 22 Dec 1975 CA 17, Department of Health, Central Office - for health services on Christmas and Cocos Islands 22 Dec 1975 CA 1951, Department of Business and Consumer Affairs, Central Office - For industries assistance and prices justification 22 Dec 1975 CA 1964, Department of Administrative Services [II], Central Office 22 Dec 1975 CA 1478, Department of Education [I], Central Office - For education on Christmas and Cocos Islands 22 Dec 1975 CA 11, Department of the Treasury [I], Central Office - for statistics
|
Controlled agency |
19 Dec 1972 - 01 Nov 1974 CA 1884, Royal Commission into Exploratory and Production Drilling for Petroleum in the Area of the Great Barrier Reef 19 Dec 1972 - 20 Sep 1973 CA 261, Commonwealth Grants Commission [I] 19 Dec 1972 - 22 Dec 1975 19 Dec 1972 - 07 Mar 1974 CA 602, Commonwealth Archives Office, (from 1972) Central Office 08 Feb 1973 - 03 May 1974 CA 2417, Aboriginal Land Rights Commission 22 Feb 1973 - 23 Jul 1974 CA 2040, Australian Post Office Commission of Inquiry 04 May 1973 - 22 Dec 1975 CA 2037, Commission of Inquiry into Land Tenures 12 Sep 1973 - 22 Dec 1975 CA 2031, Royal Commission on Petroleum 20 Sep 1973 - 22 Dec 1975 25 Sep 1973 - 22 Dec 1975 CA 2024, Commission of Inquiry into the Maritime Industry 27 Nov 1973 - 08 Mar 1974 CA 2634, Independent Inquiry into Frequency Modulation Broadcasting 30 Nov 1973 - 22 Dec 1975 CA 3802, Cocos (Keeling) Islands Administration 30 Nov 1973 - 22 Dec 1975 CA 1326, Christmas Island Administration 03 Dec 1973 - 04 Dec 1974 CA 2309, Australian Exhibit Organisation, EXPO '74 (Spokane, U.S.A.), Canberra Office 22 Jan 1974 - 22 Dec 1975 07 Mar 1974 - 22 Dec 1975 CA 1720, Australian Archives, Central Office 10 Apr 1974 - 05 Nov 1975 CA 1973, Committee of Inquiry on Museums and National Collections 01 May 1974 - 22 Dec 1975 CA 2036, Commission of Inquiry into Transport to and from Tasmania 01 Jun 1974 - 22 Dec 1975 CA 2640, Australian National Advisory Committee for International Women's Year 1975 01 Jun 1974 - 22 Dec 1975 CA 8044, International Women's Year Secretariat 06 Jun 1974 - 22 Dec 1975 CA 1896, Royal Commission into the Australian Public Service/ (by 1974) Royal Commission on Australian Government Administration 21 Aug 1974 - 22 Dec 1975 CA 1891, Royal Commission into Human Relationships (also known as Royal Commission on Human Relationships) 21 Aug 1974 - 22 Dec 1975 CA 1907, Royal Commission on Intelligence and Security 05 Sep 1974 - 22 Dec 1975 CA 2034, Royal Commission on Alleged Payments to Maritime Unions 11 Dec 1974 - 22 Dec 1975 CA 1906, Prices Justification Tribunal 11 Dec 1974 - 22 Dec 1975 CA 1719, Industries Assistance Commission (Head Office) 11 Dec 1974 - 22 Dec 1975 CA 2070, Temporary Assistance Authority 01 Jan 1975 - 22 Dec 1975 CA 4456, Office of Australian War Graves 11 Mar 1975 - 22 Dec 1975 CA 2032, Royal Commission on Norfolk Island 11 Mar 1975 - 22 Dec 1975 CA 2033, Committee of Inquiry into Public Libraries
|
Persons associated with agency |
19 Dec 1972 - 30 Nov 1973 CP 108, Hon Donald Robert WILLESEE - Minister 19 Dec 1972 - 22 Dec 1975 CP 295, Frank Leo AHRENS - First Assistant Secretary 19 Dec 1972 - 22 Dec 1975 CP 314, Sir Peter James LAWLER OBE - Secretary 06 Apr 1973 - 26 Apr 1973 CP 205, The Hon Francis Eugene STEWART - Acting Minister 30 Nov 1973 - 06 Jun 1975 CP 477, Hon Lionel Frost BOWEN AC - Special Minister of State 01 Jan 1974 - 31 Dec 1974 CP 338, Patrick John GALVIN AM - Assistant Secretary 14 Aug 1974 - 04 Oct 1974 CP 218, Dr William Kaye LAMB - Consultant on the development of a National Archives System 01 Dec 1974 - 22 Dec 1975 CP 387, John Casey TAYLOR AO - First Assistant Secretary 01 Mar 1975 - 22 Dec 1975 CP 435, Hon Susan Maree RYAN AO - International Women's Year Secretariat - Education Officer 06 Jun 1975 - 11 Nov 1975 CP 130, Hon Douglas MCCLELLAND AC - Minister 12 Nov 1975 - 22 Dec 1975 CP 177, The Rt Hon Reginald Greive WITHERS PC - Minister
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Date registered |
30 Sep 1987 |
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