Summary heading
Agency descriptive note – CA 9331
Creation
The Governor-General in Council, acting on the Prime Minister's recommendation under section 64 of the Constitution, established the Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government on 14 September 2010, as announced in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette (Special) No S159, issued on 15 September 2010.
Abolition
The department was abolished on 14 December 2011 with most functions transferred to the new Department of Regional Australia, Local Government , Arts and Sports, CA 9380
Functions and activities
Pursuant to the Administrative Arrangements Order of 14 September 2010, the Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government was responsible for the following matters:
Administration of the Jervis Bay Territory, the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands, the Territory of Christmas Island, the Coral Sea Islands Territory, the Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands, and of Commonwealth responsibilities on Norfolk Island - (from Attorney General’s Department)
Constitutional development of the Northern Territory – (from Attorney-General’s Department)
Constitutional development of the Australian Capital Territory – (from Attorney-General’s Department)
Delivery of regional and rural specific services – (from Attorney-General’s Department)
Planning and land management in the Australian Capital Territory – (from Attorney-General’s Department)
Regional development – (from Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government)
Matters relating to local government - (from Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government)
Regional Australia policy and co-ordination –(new matter)
Support for ministers and parliamentary secretaries with regional responsibilities – (new matter)
Legislation administered
Pursuant to the Administrative Arrangements Order of 14 September 2010, the Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government was responsible for the following legislation:
ACT Self-Government (Consequential Provisions) Act 1988
Ashmore and CartierIslands Acceptance Act 1933
Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988, except to the extent administered by the Minister for Finance and Deregulation
Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988
Canberra Water Supply (Googong Dam) Act 1974
Christmas Island Act 1958
Christmas Island Agreement Acts
Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955
Coral Sea Islands Act 1969
Euthanasia Laws Act 1997
Growth Centres (Financial Assistance) Act 1973
JervisBayTerritory Acceptance Act 1915
Land Commissions (Financial Assistance) Act 1973
Local Government (Financial Assistance) Act 1995
Norfolk Island Act 1979
Northern Territory Acceptance Act 1910
Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act 1978, except sections 69 and 70
Removal of Prisoners (Territories) Act 1923, insofar as it relates to the Northern Territory (except to the extent administered by the Attorney-General) and to Norfolk Island, the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands, the Territory of Christmas Island, the Coral Sea Islands Territory, and the Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands
Seat of Government Acceptance Acts
Seat of Government Act 1908
Seat of Government (Administration) Act 1910
Territories Law Reform Act 1992
Urban and Regional Development (Financial Assistance) Act 1974
In the Administrative Arrangements Order of 14 October 2010, the Euthanasia Laws Act 1997 was passed back to the Attorney-General’s Department and the Parliament Act 1974 come under this Department’s jurisdiction from the Attorney-General’s Department.
Administrative structure
Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government
14 Sep 2010 - 14 Dec 2011 : Simon Crean
Historical agency address
State/regional structure
Records created by the agency
Additional information
End notes
Sources
Commonwealth of Australia Gazette (www.ag.gov.au/portal/govgazonline.nsf)
Administrative Arrangements Order, 14 September 2010 (www.dpmc.gov.au)