Department of the Northern Territory (1972–1975)

Australian federal government department, 1972–1975

Department of the Northern TerritoryDepartment overview

Formed| 19 December 1972[1]
Preceding Department|

* Department of the Interior (II) \- the Northern Territory Division

Dissolved| 6 June 1975[1]
Superseding Department|

* Department of Northern Australia

Jurisdiction| Commonwealth of Australia
Headquarters| Darwin, Northern Territory
Ministers responsible|

* Kep Enderby, Minister (1972‑73)
* Rex Patterson, Minister (1973‑75)

Department executives|

* George Warwick Smith, Secretary (1972‑73)
* Allan O'Brien, Secretary (1973‑75)

The Department of the Northern Territory was an Australian government department that existed between December 1972 and June 1975\. It was the second so-named Australian government department.

## History

[edit]

The department was one of several new Departments established by the Whitlam government, a wide restructuring that revealed some of the new government's program.[2] The creation of the department, with a Darwin-based Secretary, was seen by many as an effort to undermine the role of the Northern Territory Administrator.[3]

## Scope

[edit]

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.

The department was responsible for the administration of the Northern Territory of Australia and the Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands. The principal matters dealt with by the department at its creation were:[1]

* Urban development and town planning
* Transport planning; and
* Local government, community services and housing
* Forest, fisheries, wildlife, and National Parks
* Animal industry and agriculture
* Mines
* Water resources

## Structure

[edit]

The department was a Commonwealth Public Service department, staffed by officials who were responsible to the Minister for the Northern Territory.[1] When the department was established, George Warwick Smith was named Secretary.[1] After less than a month, he was replaced by Allan O'Brien.[3]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e "CA 1484: Department of the Northern Territory [I], Central Office", National Archives of Australia, retrieved 9 February 2021
2. ^ National Archives of Australia, Gough Whitlam: In Office, National Archives of Australia, archived from the original on 19 April 2013
3. ^ a b A Rosenzwig, Paul (1996), Governors, Residents and Administrators of the Northern Territory: Excerpts from The House of Seven Gables - A History of Government House, Darwin (PDF), p. 83, archived from the original (PDF) on 22 March 2014

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