Northern Territory Administration

Created on 12 June 1931, when legislation repealing the Northern Australia Act 1926 reunited North Australia and Central Australia as the Northern Territory under an Administrator (Robert Weddell). It merged the two Government Residents' administrations.

Legislation: Northern Territory (Administration) Act 1910

1. 12 April 1932Responsibility passed from the Department of Home Affairs to the new Department of the Interior.
2. 1942After the bombing of Darwin in February 1942 the civil administration withdrew to Alice Springs and the north of the territory came under military control until 1945.
3. 1947A partly elected Legislative Council for the Northern Territory was established, advising and making ordinances with the Administrator.
4. 11 May 1951Responsibility passed from the Department of the Interior to the new Department of Territories.
5. 28 February 1968Responsibility returned to the Department of the Interior.
6. 19 December 1972Responsibility passed to the new Department of the Northern Territory.
7. 1974A fully elected Legislative Assembly replaced the Legislative Council.
8. 6 June 1975Responsibility passed to the Department of Northern Australia.
9. 22 December 1975Responsibility passed to the second Department of the Northern Territory.

Its functions passed to the Northern Territory Government when the territory attained self-government on 1 July 1978 under the Northern Territory (Self-Government) Act 1978.

• General administration of the Northern Territory
• Lands, pastoral leases and mining administration
• Aboriginal affairs (through the Native Affairs Branch and later the Welfare Branch)
• Health, education and public works in the territory
• Police and local services
• Support for the territory's Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly

Last in the portfolio of Department of the Northern Territory.

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Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.