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Department of Northern Australia

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Department of Northern Australia
Department overview
Formed6 June 1975[1]
Preceding Department
Dissolved22 December 1975[1]
Superseding Department
JurisdictionCommonwealth of Australia
Ministers responsible
Department executive

The Department of Northern Australia was an Australian government department that existed between June and December 1975.

Scope

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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 report.

The matters dealt with by the department at its creation were:[1]

  • Administration of the Northern Territory of Australia and the Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands
  • In respect of the part of Australia north of the parallel 26 degrees south latitude:
    • Matters related to the specialised development and utilisation of natural resources, being land, water and minerals
    • Matters related to the production and marketing of sugar and beef, and the production, processing and export of minerals
    • Specialised transport development projects, including beef and development roads, mining, railways and mineral port facilities
  • In relation to the foregoing:
    • The undertaking or support of research
    • The planning or initiation of projects
    • The co-ordination of activities in respect of projects
    • Co-operation with the States and other authorities

Structure

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The Department was a Commonwealth Public Service department, staffed by officials who were responsible to the Minister for Northern Australia.[1] The permanent head of the department was Allan O'Brien, initially based in Darwin and later based in Canberra.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d CA 1889: Department of Northern Australia, Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 1 January 2014
  2. ^ "PS men to leave Darwin". The Canberra Times. ACT. 9 July 1975. p. 3.