Department of the Capital Territory
19 December 1972 – 11 March 1983
Renamed Department of Territories and Local Government in 1983.
Department of State responsible for administering the Australian Capital Territory and the Jervis Bay Territory, including municipal and community services, land administration and leasing, and liaison with the National Capital Development Commission; it also administered Norfolk Island from 1972 to 1975.
Names over time
- Department of the Capital Territory1972–1983
- Department of Territories and Local Government1983–1984
- Department of Territories1984–1987
How it came into existence
Created by the Administrative Arrangements Order of 19 December 1972 from the Australian Capital Territory functions of the abolished Department of the Interior, with Kep Enderby as the first Minister for the Capital Territory. It also took over Norfolk Island from the Department of External Territories.
- Administration of the Australian Capital Territory
- Jervis Bay Territory
- ACT lands and leasing
- Norfolk Island
Changes during its life
- Australian Capital Territory Police
Wikipedia lists this department among the successors of the Department of Police and Customs; that the ACT Police was the function involved is inferred and not checked against the Administrative Arrangements Order.
- Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island had been administered by the Department of the Capital Territory since December 1972; the December 1975 order lists it under Administrative Services.
How it ended
Became the Department of Territories and Local Government on 11 March 1983 under the Hawke government, which added the external territories and local government to its ACT responsibilities. Norfolk Island had passed to the Department of Administrative Services in December 1975.
- Administration of the Australian Capital Territory
- Jervis Bay Territory
Main functions
- Administration of the Australian Capital Territory
- ACT municipal, community and welfare services
- ACT land administration and leasehold system
- Jervis Bay Territory
- Portfolio oversight of the National Capital Development Commission
- Norfolk Island (1972–1975)
- ACT Police (from December 1975 until the formation of the Australian Federal Police in 1979)
Bodies in this portfolio (2)
- Australian Capital Territory Police 1938–1979
- Canberra Botanic Gardens 1970–1978
Lineage
Loading lineage…
Sources
Primary sources
- Administrative Arrangements Order of 19 December 1972 (created it)
- Administrative Arrangements Order of 11 March 1983 (took effect as it ended)
1 more Administrative Arrangements Order sets it out
- Administrative Arrangements Order of 22 December 1975 (sets it out)
Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.