Department of Home Affairs
20 December 1977 – 3 November 1980
Renamed Department of Home Affairs and Environment in 1980.
Department of State responsible for support for the arts and letters, national collections and museums, the national archives, women's affairs and the administration of Norfolk Island. From late 1978 it also handled sport and recreation and the Commonwealth's remaining responsibility for the Northern Territory's constitutional development.
Names over time
- Department of Home Affairs1977–1980
- Department of Home Affairs and Environment1980–1984
- Department of Arts, Heritage and Environment1984–1987
How it came into existence
Created by the Administrative Arrangements Order of 20 December 1977 after the 1977 election, with Bob Ellicott as Minister for Home Affairs (he was also Minister for the Capital Territory). It took arts, national collections and the women's affairs unit (which became the Office of Women's Affairs) from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and the Australian Archives and the administration of Norfolk Island from the Department of Administrative Services.
- Support for the arts and letters
- National collections and museums
- Women's affairs (the women's affairs unit, which became the Office of Women's Affairs)
- Administration of Norfolk Island
- National archives (Australian Archives)
Administrative Services had held Norfolk Island, the other external territories and the national archives since December 1975; only Norfolk Island and the archives moved to Home Affairs, the other external territories (including Christmas Island) staying with Administrative Services.
Changes during its life
- Constitutional development of the Northern Territory
- Remaining Commonwealth responsibilities for the Northern Territory after self-government
- Took over functions from Department of Environment, Housing and Community Development · 5 December 1978
- Sport and recreation
How it ended
Became the Department of Home Affairs and Environment on 3 November 1980, when it also took over the environment functions of the abolished Department of Science and the Environment.
- Arts and national collections
- National archives
- Women's affairs
- Norfolk Island
- Northern Territory constitutional development
- Sport and recreation
Main functions
- Support for the arts and letters, including the Australia Council
- National collections and museums, including the Australian National Gallery and the new National Museum of Australia
- National archives (Australian Archives)
- Women's affairs (Office of Women's Affairs)
- Administration of Norfolk Island, including Norfolk Island self-government in 1979
- Sport and recreation (from December 1978)
- Constitutional development of the Northern Territory after self-government (from September 1978)
Bodies in this portfolio (1)
- Norfolk Island Administration 1914–1979
Lineage
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Sources
Primary sources
Government records and websites
Other sources
Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.