Summary heading

CA 9266 – agency descriptive note

Abolition

Creation

Old Parliament House was established as an Executive Agency by the Administrator of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia, Professor Marie Bashir, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, under section 65 of the Public Service Act 1999.  The Order appeared in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette (Special), issue No S95 of 1 May 2008.

Prior to its establishment as an Executive Agency within the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia (administered by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet), Old Parliament House, having first opened in 1992, came under the auspices of a number of other agencies including the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts and the Department of Administrative Services.

Functions and activities

The functions of Old parliament House, as described in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No S95 of 1 May 2008, were to:

• Conserve, develop and present the Old Parliament House building and collections
• Provide public programs and research activities related to Australia’s social and parliamentary history
• Provide a range of other services for visitors to Old Parliament House
• Undertake other relevant tasks as the Minister may require from time to time

Legislation administered

Administrative structure

Old Parliament House was established as an Executive Agency within the Prime Minister and Cabinet portfolio in the Order of 1 May 2008.  The Cabinet Secretary was identified as the Minister responsible for the Executive Agency.  The Hon John Philip Faulkner had been sworn in as Special Minister of State and Cabinet Secretary on 3 December 2007.  The Hon Joseph William Ludwig became Cabinet Secretary and Special Minister of State on 9 June 2009.

Historical agency address

18 King George Terrace,
Parkes, Canberra. ACT. 2600.

State/regional structure

Records created by the agency

The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet retains records accumulated by Old Parliament House.  As at December 2009, it was not known whether any records remain with other agencies.

Additional information

End notes

Sources

1.  The Commonwealth of Australia Gazette (Special) No S95, 1 May 2008.

2.  The Museum of Australian Democracy website, www.moadoph.gov.au, accessed on 13 July 2009.