41st Parliament
Elected 9 October 2004 · first met 16 November 2004 · dissolved 17 October 2007
The changes below took effect from its election on 9 October 2004 to 23 November 2007, the day before the next election, so they count the work of the government it produced.
- John Howard (Liberal)
Changes
53
13 renamed from6 merged from6 absorbed13 split from8 took over functions from7 replaced
Departments of State
5 / 4
created / abolished
Other bodies
42 / 36
created / ended
Administrative Arrangements Orders
3
made in the period
The biggest reshuffle took effect on 26 October 2004, when 4 changes landed on one day.
What was happening
- War in Afghanistan · 7 October 2001 to 30 June 2021 · Australian involvement, from the first commitment of forces to the withdrawal of the last troops. (War or armed conflict)
- Iraq War · 20 March 2003 to 31 July 2009 · From the invasion to the end of Operation Catalyst, Australia’s military commitment. (War or armed conflict)
Departments of State created (5)
Departments of State abolished (4)
Other bodies created (42)
Show all 42 bodies created
- National Water Commission 2004–2015
- Australia-Malaysia Institute 2005–2016
- Australia-Thailand Institute 2005–2016
- Australian Safety and Compensation Council 2005–2009
- National Offshore Petroleum Safety Authority 2005–2012
- Office of Evaluation and Audit (Indigenous Programs) 2005–2009
- Office of the Federal Safety Commissioner 2005–present
- PSSap Board 2005–2006
- Joint Offshore Protection Command 2005–2006
- Australian Communications and Media Authority 2005–present
- Australian Energy Regulator 2005–present
- National E-Health Transition Authority 2005–2016
- Australian Building and Construction Commission 2005–2012
- Centrelink 2005–2011
- Medicare Australia 2005–2011
- Inquiry into certain Australian companies in relation to the UN Oil-for-Food Programme 2005–2006
- Teaching Australia – Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership Limited 2005–2010
- Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care 2006–present
- Australian Fair Pay Commission 2006–2009
- Australian Fair Pay Commission Secretariat 2006–2009
- Cancer Australia 2006–present
- COAG Reform Council 2006–2014
- Future Fund Board of Guardians 2006–present
- Future Fund Management Agency 2006–present
- Office of Best Practice Regulation 2006–2023
- Outback Stores Pty Ltd 2006–present
- Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority 2006–2020
- Office of Workplace Services 2006–2007
- Office of the Director of Military Prosecutions 2006–present
- Australian Reward Investment Alliance 2006–2011
- Border Protection Command 2006–2015
- Defence Housing Australia 2006–present
- Australia-Japan Foundation 2006–present
- Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity 2006–2023
- Executive Director of Township Leasing 2007–present
- Aged Care Commissioner 2007–2016
- Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations 2007–present
- Workplace Authority 2007–2010
- Workplace Ombudsman 2007–2009
- Equine Influenza Inquiry 2007–2008
- Innovation Australia 2007–2016
- Australian Military Court 2007–2009
Other bodies ended (36)
Show all 36 bodies ended
- Ionospheric Prediction Service 1947–2007
- Health Insurance Commission 1974–2005
- Australia-Japan Foundation 1976–2006
- Office of the Registrar of Aboriginal Corporations 1978–2007
- Federal Police Disciplinary Tribunal 1982–2006
- National Occupational Health and Safety Commission 1985–2006
- Industry Research and Development Board 1986–2007
- Australian Sports Drug Agency 1988–2006
- Coastwatch 1988–2005
- Defence Housing Authority 1988–2006
- Office of Film and Literature Classification 1988–2006
- CSS Board 1990–2006
- Office of Evaluation and Audit 1990–2005
- PSS Board 1990–2006
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission 1990–2005
- Australian National Training Authority 1992–2005
- Australian Broadcasting Authority 1992–2005
- Telstra Corporation Limited 1993–2006
- Forest and Wood Products Research and Development Corporation 1994–2007
- Office of the Employment Advocate 1997–2007
- Australian Communications Authority 1997–2005
- Commonwealth Services Delivery Agency 1997–2005
- Maritime Industry Finance Company Limited 1998–2006
- National Oceans Office 1999–2005
- NetAlert Limited 1999–2006
- Australian Council for Safety and Quality in Health Care 2000–2006
- Commissioner for Complaints 2000–2007
- National Institute of Clinical Studies 2000–2007
- Venture Capital Registration Board 2002–2007
- Building Industry Taskforce 2002–2005
- National Institute for Quality Teaching and School Leadership 2004–2005
- Royal Commission to Inquire into the Centenary House Lease 2004
- PSSap Board 2005–2006
- Joint Offshore Protection Command 2005–2006
- Inquiry into certain Australian companies in relation to the UN Oil-for-Food Programme 2005–2006
- Office of Workplace Services 2006–2007
Administrative Arrangements Orders made
- Order of 26 October 2004 · Federal Register of Legislation
- Order of 16 December 2004 · Federal Register of Legislation
- Order of 21 September 2006 · Federal Register of Legislation
Every change (53)
Show every change, day by day
1 July 2007
- Airservices Australia functions transferred to Civil Aviation Safety Authority
- Office of the Registrar of Aboriginal Corporations replaced by Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations
- Office of the Employment Advocate renamed to Workplace Authority
- Office of Workplace Services renamed to Workplace Ombudsman
30 January 2007
- Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs renamed to Department of Immigration and Citizenship
- Department of the Environment and Heritage renamed to Department of the Environment and Water Resources
- Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet part split off to form Department of the Environment and Water Resources
- Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry part split off to form Department of the Environment and Water Resources
12 June 2006
- Department of Defence part split off to form Office of the Director of Military Prosecutions
27 March 2006
- Department of Employment and Workplace Relations part split off to form Office of Workplace Services
27 January 2006
- Department of Family and Community Services renamed to Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
- Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs part split off to form Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
- Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs renamed to Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs
2006
- NetAlert Limited functions transferred to Australian Communications and Media Authority
- Australian Industrial Relations Commission part split off to form Australian Fair Pay Commission
- Department of Health and Ageing part split off to form Cancer Australia
- Productivity Commission part split off to form Office of Best Practice Regulation
1 July 2005
- Australian Broadcasting Authority merged into Australian Communications and Media Authority
- Australian Communications Authority merged into Australian Communications and Media Authority
- Australian Competition and Consumer Commission part split off to form Australian Energy Regulator
- Australian National Training Authority absorbed into Department of Education, Science and Training
24 March 2005
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission functions transferred to Indigenous Business Australia
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission functions transferred to Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination
March 2005
- Coastwatch merged into Joint Offshore Protection Command
- Department of Defence part split off to form Joint Offshore Protection Command
2005
- National Occupational Health and Safety Commission functions transferred to Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
- National Oceans Office absorbed into Department of the Environment and Heritage
- Office of Evaluation and Audit renamed to Office of Evaluation and Audit (Indigenous Programs)
- Department of Employment and Workplace Relations part split off to form Office of the Federal Safety Commissioner
1 December 2004
- Department of Family and Community Services functions transferred to Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
26 October 2004
- Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet functions transferred to Department of Family and Community Services
- Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts functions transferred to Department of Finance and Administration
- Department of Family and Community Services part split off to form Department of Human Services
- Department of Health and Ageing part split off to form Department of Human Services