The Department of Territories was an
Australian government department that existed between December 1984 and July 1987. It was the second Australian government department bearing this name.
History
The department was abolished as part of the massive restructuring of the
Public Service announced by Prime Minister
Bob Hawke
Robert James Lee Hawke (9 December 1929 – 16 May 2019) was an Australian politician and union organiser who served as the 23rd prime minister of Australia from 1983 to 1991, holding office as the leader of the Australian Labor Party (A ...
in July 1987.
Scope
Information about the department's functions and government funding allocation could be found in the
Administrative Arrangements Orders, the annual Portfolio Budget Statements and in the department's annual reports.
At its creation, the department dealt with:
*Administration of the
Australian Capital Territory, the
Jervis Bay Territory, the Territory of
Cocos (Keeling) Islands, the Territory of
Christmas Island, the
Coral Sea Islands
The Coral Sea Islands Territory is an external territory of Australia which comprises a group of small and mostly uninhabited tropical islands and reefs in the Coral Sea, northeast of Queensland, Australia. The only inhabited island is W ...
Territory and the
Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands, as well as Commonwealth responsibilities on
Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island (, ; Norfuk: ''Norf'k Ailen'') is an external territory of Australia located in the Pacific Ocean between New Zealand and New Caledonia, directly east of Australia's Evans Head and about from Lord Howe Island. Together with ...
.
*Constitutional development of the
Northern Territory of Australia.
Structure
The department was a
Commonwealth Public Service department, staffed by officials who were responsible to the
Minister for Territories
The Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government in the Government of Australia is a position currently held by following the swearing in of the full Albanese ministry on 1 June 2022.
The Minister for Regio ...
.
References
Ministries established in 1984
Territories
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