28th Parliament

Elected 2 December 1972 · first met 27 February 1973 · dissolved 11 April 1974

The changes below took effect from its election on 2 December 1972 to 17 May 1974, the day before the next election, so they count the work of the government it produced.

William McMahon (Liberal)
Gough Whitlam (Labor)

Changes

17 renamed from7 merged from5 absorbed29 split from6 took over functions from6 replaced

Departments of State

19 / 15

created / abolished

Other bodies

53 / 30

created / ended

Administrative Arrangements Orders

on the Federal Register, which holds few orders before 2001

The biggest reshuffle took effect on 19 December 1972, when 27 changes landed on one day.

What was happening

Vietnam War · 3 August 1962 to 11 January 1973 · From the arrival of the Australian Army Training Team to the proclamation ending Australian involvement. (War or armed conflict)

Departments of State created (19)

Department of Aboriginal Affairs 1972–1990
Department of Education 1972–1983
Department of Labour 1972–1974
Department of Minerals and Energy 1972–1975
Department of Northern Development 1972–1975
Department of Overseas Trade 1972–1977
Department of Science 1972–1975
Department of Secondary Industry 1972–1974
Department of Services and Property 1972–1975
Department of Social Security 1972–1998
Department of the Capital Territory 1972–1983
Department of the Environment and Conservation 1972–1975
Department of the Media 1972–1975
Department of the Northern Territory 1972–1975
Department of the Special Minister of State 1972–1975
Department of Tourism and Recreation 1972–1975
Department of Transport 1972–1982
Department of Urban and Regional Development 1972–1975
Department of Housing and Construction 1973–1975

Departments of State abolished (15)

Department of Civil Aviation 1938–1973
Department of Social Services 1939–1972
Department of the Interior 1939–1972
Department of Air 1939–1973
Department of the Army 1939–1973
Department of the Navy 1939–1973
Department of Labour and National Service 1940–1972
Department of National Development 1950–1972
Department of Shipping and Transport 1951–1972
Department of Works 1952–1973
Department of Housing 1963–1973
Department of Trade and Industry 1963–1972
Department of Education and Science 1966–1972
Department of External Territories 1968–1973
Department of the Environment, Aborigines and the Arts 1971–1972

Other bodies created (53)

Show all 53 bodies created

Aboriginal Hostels Limited 1973–present
Australia Council 1973–2023
Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission 1973–1989
Australian Dental Standards Laboratory 1973–1985
Australian Electoral Office 1973–1984
Australian Film and Television School 1973–1986
Australian Government Analytical Laboratories 1973–2004
Australian Industrial Court 1973–1977
Australian Information Service 1973–1986
Australian Institute of Criminology 1973–present
Australian Legal Aid Office 1973–1990
Australian Radiation Laboratory 1973–1999
Australian Taxation Office 1973–present
Australian Wool Corporation 1973–1993
Cities Commission 1973–1975
Curriculum Development Centre 1973–1981
Film Australia 1973–1988
Hospitals and Health Services Commission 1973–1978
Insurance Commissioner 1973–1987
National Aboriginal Consultative Committee 1973–1977
National Acoustic Laboratories 1973–1992
Pipeline Authority 1973–1994
Prices Justification Tribunal 1973–1981
Remuneration Tribunal 1973–present
Social Welfare Commission 1973–1976
Aboriginal Land Rights Commission 1973–1974
Commission of Inquiry into the Australian Post Office 1973–1974
Commission of Inquiry into Land Tenures 1973–1976
Royal Commission on Petroleum 1973–1976
Commission of Inquiry into the Maritime Industry 1973–1976
Independent Inquiry into Frequency Modulation Broadcasting 1973–1974
International Training Institute 1973–1997
Schools Commission 1973–1981
Aboriginal Land Fund Commission 1974–1980
Aboriginal Loans Commission 1974–1980
Academic Salaries Tribunal 1974–1987
Albury-Wodonga Development Corporation 1974–2014
Australian Apple and Pear Corporation 1974–1988
Australian Archives 1974–1998
Australian Bureau of Statistics 1974–present
Australian Development Assistance Agency 1974–1976
Australian Plague Locust Commission 1974–present
Australian Safeguards Office 1974–1998
Australian Shipping Commission 1974–1989
Defence Science and Technology Organisation 1974–2015
Export Development Grants Board 1974–1986
Federal Office of Road Safety 1974–1999
Health Insurance Commission 1974–2005
Industries Assistance Commission 1974–1990
Materials Research Laboratories 1974–1994
Natural Disasters Organisation 1974–1993
Temporary Assistance Authority 1974–1990
Commission of Inquiry into Transport to and from Tasmania 1974–1976

Other bodies ended (30)

Show all 30 bodies ended

Chief Electoral Office 1902–1973
Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics 1905–1974
Commonwealth Literary Fund 1908–1973
Commonwealth Art Advisory Board 1912–1973
Federal Taxation Office 1914–1973
Tariff Board 1921–1974
Australian Apple and Pear Board 1938–1974
Australian News and Information Bureau 1940–1973
Australian School of Pacific Administration 1947–1973
Commonwealth Acoustic Laboratories 1947–1973
Commonwealth Bureau of Dental Standards 1947–1973
Australian Defence Scientific Service 1949–1974
Defence Standards Laboratories 1953–1974
Welfare Branch 1954–1973
Directorate of Civil Defence 1955–1974
Australian Coastal Shipping Commission 1956–1974
Commonwealth Film Unit 1956–1973
Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Commission 1956–1973
Commonwealth Industrial Court 1956–1973
Commonwealth Archives Office 1961–1974
Special Advisory Authority 1962–1974
Australian Wool Board 1963–1973
Office of Aboriginal Affairs 1967–1972
Australian Council for the Arts 1968–1973
Australian Wool Commission 1970–1973
Administration of Papua New Guinea 1971–1973
National Urban and Regional Development Authority 1972–1973
Commonwealth Radiation Laboratory 1972–1973
Commission of Inquiry into the Australian Post Office 1973–1974
Independent Inquiry into Frequency Modulation Broadcasting 1973–1974

Administrative Arrangements Orders made

Order of 19 December 1972 · Federal Register of Legislation

Every change (70)

Show every change, day by day

What was happening

Departments of State created (19)

Departments of State abolished (15)

Other bodies created (53)

Other bodies ended (30)

Administrative Arrangements Orders made

Every change (70)

1974

1 January 1974

1 December 1973

30 November 1973

1973

1 January 1973

19 December 1972

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