The Australian Government on 1 January 1981
Prime Minister: Malcolm Fraser (Liberal) · 32nd Parliament
Changes taking effect on this day
- Australian Wine Board replaced by Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation
- Curriculum Development Centre absorbed into Commonwealth Schools Commission
- Schools Commission renamed to Commonwealth Schools Commission
- Tertiary Education Commission renamed to Commonwealth Tertiary Education Commission
- Department of Transport part split off to form Independent Air Fares Committee
- Metric Conversion Board functions transferred to National Standards Commission
- Prices Justification Tribunal replaced by Petroleum Products Pricing Authority
- British Phosphate Commissioners part split off to form Phosphate Mining Company of Christmas Island
- Christmas Island Phosphate Commission replaced by Phosphate Mining Company of Christmas Island
Departments of State (26)
- Attorney-General's Department1901–present
- Department of Aboriginal Affairs1972–1990
- Department of Administrative Services1975–1984
- Department of Business and Consumer Affairs1975–1982
- Department of Communications1980–1987
- Department of Defence1942–present
- Department of Education1972–1983
- Department of Employment and Youth Affairs1978–1982
- Department of Finance1976–1997
- Department of Foreign Affairs1970–1987
- Department of Health1921–1987
- Department of Home Affairs and Environment1980–1984
- Department of Housing and Construction1978–1982
- Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs1975–1987
- Department of Industrial Relations1978–1982
- Department of Industry and Commerce1975–1982
- Department of National Development and Energy1979–1983
- Department of Primary Industry1975–1987
- Department of Science and Technology1980–1984
- Department of Social Security1972–1998
- Department of the Capital Territory1972–1983
- Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet1971–present
- Department of the Treasury1901–present
- Department of Trade and Resources1977–1983
- Department of Transport1972–1982
- Department of Veterans' Affairs1976–present
Other bodies (231)
Central government
- Advisory Council for Inter-government Relations 1976–1989
- Audit Office 1902–1998
- Australian Electoral Office 1973–1984
- Governor-General's Office 1901–1984
- Office of National Assessments 1978–2018
- Public Service Board 1923–1987
- Remuneration Tribunal 1973–present
Parliament
- Department of the House of Representatives 1901–present
- Department of the Parliamentary Library 1901–2004
- Department of the Parliamentary Reporting Staff 1901–2004
- Department of the Senate 1901–present
- Joint House Department 1901–2004
- Parliament House Construction Authority 1979–1989
Law, justice & security
- Administrative Appeals Tribunal 1976–2024
- Administrative Review Council 1976–2015
- Australian Bureau of Criminal Intelligence 1981–2003
- Australian Federal Police 1979–present
- Australian Institute of Criminology 1973–present
- Australian Legal Aid Office 1973–1990
- Australian Security Intelligence Organisation 1949–present
- Commonwealth Crown Solicitor's Office 1903–1984
- Commonwealth Film Censorship Board 1928–1996
- Family Court of Australia 1976–2021
- Federal Court of Australia 1977–present
- Films Board of Review 1970–1996
- High Court of Australia 1903–present
- Law Reform Commission 1975–1997
- Office of Parliamentary Counsel 1970–present
- Office of the Commissioner for Community Relations 1975–1986
- Office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman 1977–present
- Royal Commission on the Activities of the Federated Ship Painters and Dockers Union 1980–1984
- Security Appeals Tribunal 1980–1995
- Social Security Appeals Tribunal 1975–2015
- Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory 1934–1992
Treasury & finance
- Australian Bureau of Statistics 1974–present
- Australian Industry Development Corporation 1970–1997
- Australian Taxation Office 1973–present
- Commonwealth Banking Corporation 1960–1984
- Commonwealth Development Bank of Australia 1960–1991
- Commonwealth Grants Commission 1933–present
- Commonwealth Savings Bank of Australia 1928–1993
- Commonwealth Trading Bank of Australia 1953–1984
- ComSuper 1976–2015
- Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits Authority 1972–2011
- Industries Assistance Commission 1974–1990
- Insurance Commissioner 1973–1987
- Life Insurance Commissioner 1946–1987
- National Companies and Securities Commission 1980–1991
- National Debt Commission 1923–1994
- Note Printing Branch 1913–1998
- Petroleum Products Pricing Authority 1981–1984
- Primary Industry Bank of Australia Limited 1978–1994
- Reserve Bank of Australia 1960–present
- Royal Australian Mint 1965–present
- Superannuation Fund Investment Trust 1976–1990
- Tax Agents' Boards 1943–2010
- Taxation Boards of Review 1925–1986
- Temporary Assistance Authority 1974–1990
- Trade Practices Commission 1974–1995
- Trade Practices Tribunal 1967–1995
Industry, science & resources
- Anglo-Australian Telescope Board 1971–2010
- Australian Atomic Energy Commission 1953–1987
- Australian Government Analytical Laboratories 1973–2004
- Australian Industrial Research and Development Incentives Board 1976–1986
- Australian Science and Technology Council 1975–1997
- Australian Survey Office 1910–1987
- Bureau of Industry Economics 1977–1998
- Bureau of Mineral Resources, Geology and Geophysics 1946–1992
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation 1949–present
- Copyright Tribunal of Australia 1969–present
- Division of National Mapping 1947–1987
- Joint Coal Board 1947–2002
- National Energy Research, Development and Demonstration Council 1978–1990
- National Measurement Laboratory 1938–2004
- National Standards Commission 1950–2004
- Patent Office 1904–1992
- Phosphate Mining Company of Christmas Island 1981–1987
- Pipeline Authority 1973–1994
- Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation 1970–1989
- Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Authority 1949–2002
Health, ageing & disability
- Australian Dental Standards Laboratory 1973–1985
- Australian Institute of Anatomy 1931–1984
- Australian Radiation Laboratory 1973–1999
- Capital Territory Health Commission 1975–1985
- Commission of Inquiry into the Efficiency and Administration of Hospitals 1979–1981
- Commonwealth Institute of Health 1980–1984
- Commonwealth Serum Laboratories Commission 1961–1991
- Health Insurance Commission 1974–2005
- National Acoustic Laboratories 1973–1992
- National Biological Standards Laboratory 1958–1989
- National Health and Medical Research Council 1936–present
Social services & housing
- Australian Institute of Family Studies 1980–present
- Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service 1948–2015
- Housing Loans Insurance Corporation 1965–1997
- Office of Women's Affairs 1977–1983
Education & research
- ACT Schools Authority 1977–1987
- Australian Maritime College 1978–2008
- Australian National University 1946–present
- Australian Research Grants Committee 1965–1988
- Canberra College of Advanced Education 1967–1990
- Canberra School of Art 1976–1988
- Canberra School of Music 1965–1988
- Commonwealth Schools Commission 1981–1988
- Commonwealth Tertiary Education Commission 1981–1988
Employment & workplace
- Academic Salaries Tribunal 1974–1987
- Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission 1973–1989
- Bureau of Labour Market Research 1980–1986
- Coal Industry Tribunal 1947–1995
- Commonwealth Employment Service 1946–1998
- Flight Crew Officers' Industrial Tribunal 1967–1989
- Industrial Relations Bureau 1977–1983
- Office of the Commissioner for Employees' Compensation 1971–1988
- Public Service Arbitrator 1921–1984
- Stevedoring Industry Finance Committee 1977–1994
- Trade Union Training Authority 1975–1996
Transport & infrastructure
- Albury-Wodonga Development Corporation 1974–2014
- Australian National Airlines Commission 1946–1988
- Australian National Railways Commission 1975–1998
- Australian Shipping Commission 1974–1989
- Bureau of Transport Economics 1970–1988
- Commonwealth Experimental Building Station 1944–1982
- Federal Office of Road Safety 1974–1999
- Independent Air Fares Committee 1981–1990
- Qantas Airways Limited 1967–1995
Communications & media
- Aussat Pty Ltd 1981–1992
- Australian Broadcasting Commission 1932–1983
- Australian Broadcasting Tribunal 1977–1992
- Australian Government Publishing Service 1970–1997
- Australian Information Service 1973–1986
- Australian Postal Commission 1975–1989
- Australian Telecommunications Commission 1975–1989
- Overseas Telecommunications Commission (Australia) 1946–1989
- Special Broadcasting Service 1978–1991
Arts, sport & collections
- Australia Council 1973–2023
- Australian Archives 1974–1998
- Australian Bicentennial Authority 1980–1989
- Australian Film and Television School 1973–1986
- Australian Film Commission 1975–2008
- Australian National Gallery 1975–1992
- Australian War Memorial 1925–present
- Canberra Theatre Trust 1965–1989
- Film Australia 1973–1988
- National Australia Day Committee 1979–1984
- National Library of Australia 1961–present
- National Museum of Australia 1980–present
Indigenous affairs
- Aboriginal Arts and Crafts Pty Ltd 1971–1990
- Aboriginal Development Commission 1980–1990
- Aboriginal Hostels Limited 1973–present
- Aboriginal Land Commissioner 1977–present
- Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies 1964–1990
- Central Land Council 1977–present
- National Aboriginal Conference 1977–1985
- Northern Land Council 1977–present
- Office of the Registrar of Aboriginal Corporations 1978–2007
- Tiwi Land Council 1978–present
Territories & national capital
- Australian Capital Territory Electricity Authority 1963–1988
- Christmas Island Administration 1958–present
- Cocos (Keeling) Islands Administration 1955–present
- National Capital Development Commission 1958–1989
- Totalizator Agency Board of the Australian Capital Territory 1964–1989
Agriculture, fisheries & forestry
- Australian Apple and Pear Corporation 1974–1988
- Australian Canned Fruits Corporation 1979–1988
- Australian Dairy Corporation 1975–2003
- Australian Dried Fruits Corporation 1979–1991
- Australian Egg Board 1948–1985
- Australian Honey Board 1962–1987
- Australian Meat and Live-stock Corporation 1977–1998
- Australian Plague Locust Commission 1974–present
- Australian Tobacco Board 1965–1995
- Australian Wheat Board 1939–1999
- Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation 1981–2010
- Australian Wool Corporation 1973–1993
- Australian Wool Testing Authority 1957–1982
- Bureau of Agricultural Economics 1945–1988
Environment & water
- Australian Antarctic Division 1948–present
- Australian Heritage Commission 1975–2004
- Australian Institute of Marine Science 1972–present
- Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service 1975–1993
- Bureau of Flora and Fauna 1978–1988
- Bureau of Meteorology 1908–present
- Director of National Parks and Wildlife 1975–2000
- Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority 1975–present
- Ionospheric Prediction Service 1947–2007
- National Botanic Gardens 1978–1984
- River Murray Commission 1917–1988
- Supervising Scientist for the Alligator Rivers Region 1978–1994
Defence & veterans
- AAF Company 1946–present
- Aeronautical Research Laboratories 1949–1994
- Ammunition Factory Footscray 1927–1989
- Army and Air Force Canteen Service 1979–present
- Australian Military Forces Relief Trust Fund 1947–present
- Commonwealth Government Clothing Factory 1912–1989
- Commonwealth Small Arms Factory 1912–1989
- Courts-Martial Appeal Tribunal 1957–1985
- Defence Research Centre Salisbury 1978–1987
- Defence Science and Technology Organisation 1974–2015
- Defence Service Homes Corporation 1976–1988
- Defence Signals Directorate 1978–2013
- Explosives Factory Maribyrnong 1910–1989
- Explosives Factory Mulwala 1943–1989
- Government Aircraft Factories 1946–1987
- Joint Intelligence Organisation 1969–1990
- Materials Research Laboratories 1974–1994
- Munitions Filling Factory St Marys 1942–1989
- Office of Australian War Graves 1975–present
- Ordnance Factory Bendigo 1942–1989
- Ordnance Factory Maribyrnong 1924–1989
- RAAF Welfare Recreational Company 1969–present
- Repatriation Commission 1918–present
- Repatriation Review Tribunal 1979–1985
- Royal Australian Air Force Veterans' Residences Trust Fund 1953–present
- Royal Australian Air Force Welfare Trust Fund 1947–present
- Royal Australian Navy Central Canteens Board 1943–present
- Royal Australian Navy Relief Trust Fund 1947–present
- Williamstown Naval Dockyard 1942–1988
Foreign affairs & trade
- Australia-China Council 1978–2020
- Australia-Japan Foundation 1976–2006
- Australian Development Assistance Bureau 1976–1987
- Australian Overseas Projects Corporation 1978–1986
- Australian Safeguards Office 1974–1998
- Australian Secret Intelligence Service 1952–present
- Australian Tourist Commission 1967–2004
- Australian Trade Commissioner Service 1933–1986
- Export Development Grants Board 1974–1986
- Export Finance and Insurance Corporation 1975–1986
- International Training Institute 1973–1997