Department of Territories (1984–87)

The Department of Territories was an Australian government department that existed between December 1984 and July 1987. It was the second so-named Australian Government department.

Department of Territories

Department overview
Formed	13 December 1984[1]
Preceding Department	Department of Territories and Local Government
Dissolved	24 July 1987[1]
Superseding agency	Department of Administrative Services (III) - for the Parliament House Construction Authority Department of the Arts, Sport, the Environment, Tourism and Territories - for all other functions
Jurisdiction	Commonwealth of Australia
Headquarters	Electricity House, City, Canberra
Minister responsible	Gordon Scholes, Minister
Department executive	John Enfield, Secretary

History

The Department was abolished as part of the massive restructuring of the Public Service announced by Prime Minister Bob Hawke in July 1987.[2]

Scope

Information about the department's functions and/or 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:[1]

• 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 Territory and the Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands and of Commonwealth responsibilities on Norfolk Island.
• 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.[1]

References

1. CA 4135: Department of Territories [II], Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 29 December 2013
2. Hobbs, Philip (15 July 1987). "Long faces and bewildered looks at the now-defunct Department of Territories: ACT affairs to be run by an 'office'". The Canberra Times. p. 3.