42nd Parliament
Elected 24 November 2007 · first met 12 February 2008 · dissolved 19 July 2010
The changes below took effect from its election on 24 November 2007 to 20 August 2010, the day before the next election, so they count the work of the government it produced.
- John Howard (Liberal)
- Kevin Rudd (Labor)
- Julia Gillard (Labor)
Changes
65
13 renamed from6 merged from7 absorbed30 split from4 took over functions from5 replaced
Departments of State
10 / 9
created / abolished
Other bodies
38 / 36
created / ended
Administrative Arrangements Orders
2
made in the period
The biggest reshuffle took effect on 3 December 2007, when 19 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)
- Apology to the Stolen Generations · 13 February 2008 · The Parliament apologises to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. (National milestone)
- Global financial crisis · 15 September 2008 to 30 June 2009 · The Commonwealth guarantees bank deposits and brings in stimulus spending. (Pandemic or economic crisis)
Departments of State created (10)
- Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy 2007–2013
- Department of Climate Change 2007–2010
- Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations 2007–2013
- Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs 2007–2013
- Department of Finance and Deregulation 2007–2013
- Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government 2007–2010
- Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research 2007–2011
- Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism 2007–2013
- Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts 2007–2010
- Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency 2010–2013
Departments of State abolished (9)
- Department of Finance and Administration 1997–2007
- Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts 1998–2007
- Department of Transport and Regional Services 1998–2007
- Department of Education, Science and Training 2001–2007
- Department of Employment and Workplace Relations 2001–2007
- Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources 2001–2007
- Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs 2006–2007
- Department of the Environment and Water Resources 2007
- Department of Climate Change 2007–2010
Other bodies created (38)
Show all 38 bodies created
- Asia Pacific Civil-Military Centre of Excellence 2008–2012
- Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics 2008–present
- Greenhouse and Energy Data Officer 2008–2012
- Interim Inspector-General of Horse Importation 2008–2009
- National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre 2008–2011
- National Curriculum Board 2008–2009
- Skills Australia 2008–2012
- Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder 2008–present
- Murray-Darling Basin Authority 2008–present
- Infrastructure Australia 2008–present
- Australian Learning and Teaching Council Ltd 2008–2012
- Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal 2008–2011
- National Film and Sound Archive of Australia 2008–present
- Old Parliament House 2008–2016
- Screen Australia 2008–present
- Wheat Exports Australia 2008–2012
- Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority 2008–present
- Australian Centre for Renewable Energy 2009–2012
- Australian Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation Authority 2009–present
- NBN Co Limited 2009–present
- Australian Customs and Border Protection Service 2009–2015
- Fair Work Australia 2009–2013
- Interim Inspector-General of Biosecurity 2009–2016
- Office of the Fair Work Ombudsman 2009–present
- Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority 2009–present
- Coordinator-General for Remote Indigenous Services 2009–2014
- Australian Solar Institute 2009–2013
- Australian Human Rights Commission 2009–present
- Safe Work Australia 2009–present
- Aircraft Noise Ombudsman 2010–present
- Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership Limited 2010–present
- CERT Australia 2010–2018
- Health Workforce Australia 2010–2014
- Low Carbon Australia Limited 2010–2013
- Wine Australia Corporation 2010–2014
- Tax Practitioners Board 2010–present
- Australian Astronomical Observatory 2010–2018
- Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences 2010–present
Other bodies ended (36)
Show all 36 bodies ended
- Tax Agents' Boards 1943–2010
- Anglo-Australian Telescope Board 1971–2010
- Australian Film Commission 1975–2008
- Australian Maritime College 1978–2008
- Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation 1981–2010
- Australian Customs Service 1985–2009
- Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission 1986–2009
- Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics 1988–2010
- Australian Film Finance Corporation 1988–2008
- Film Australia Limited 1988–2008
- Murray-Darling Basin Commission 1988–2008
- Australian Industrial Registry 1989–2010
- Australian Industrial Relations Commission 1989–2010
- Land and Water Resources Research and Development Corporation 1990–2009
- National Breast Cancer Centre 1995–2008
- Invest Australia 1997–2008
- Health Services Australia 1997–2009
- Bureau of Rural Sciences 1998–2010
- Australian Greenhouse Office 1998–2007
- Bureau of Transport and Regional Economics 1999–2008
- Wheat Export Authority 1999–2008
- Dairy Adjustment Authority 2000–2008
- Biosecurity Australia 2000–2009
- Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination 2004–2008
- Carrick Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education Ltd 2004–2008
- Australian Safety and Compensation Council 2005–2009
- Office of Evaluation and Audit (Indigenous Programs) 2005–2009
- Teaching Australia – Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership Limited 2005–2010
- Australian Fair Pay Commission 2006–2009
- Australian Fair Pay Commission Secretariat 2006–2009
- Workplace Authority 2007–2010
- Workplace Ombudsman 2007–2009
- Equine Influenza Inquiry 2007–2008
- Australian Military Court 2007–2009
- Interim Inspector-General of Horse Importation 2008–2009
- National Curriculum Board 2008–2009
Administrative Arrangements Orders made
- Order of 3 December 2007 · Federal Register of Legislation
- Order of 25 January 2008 · Federal Register of Legislation
Every change (65)
Show every change, day by day
1 July 2010
- Anglo-Australian Telescope Board replaced by Australian Astronomical Observatory
- Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics merged into Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences
- Bureau of Rural Sciences merged into Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences
2010
- Airservices Australia part split off to form Aircraft Noise Ombudsman
- Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation renamed to Wine Australia Corporation
January 2010
- Attorney-General's Department part split off to form CERT Australia
1 November 2009
- Australian Safety and Compensation Council replaced by Safe Work Australia
- Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations part split off to form Safe Work Australia
1 July 2009
- Australian Transport Safety Bureau functions transferred to Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government
- Australian Industrial Relations Commission part split off to form Fair Work Australia
- Australian Fair Pay Commission part split off to form Fair Work Australia
- Australian Fair Pay Commission Secretariat part split off to form Fair Work Australia
- Australian Industrial Registry part split off to form Fair Work Australia
- Workplace Authority part split off to form Fair Work Australia
- Interim Inspector-General of Horse Importation replaced by Interim Inspector-General of Biosecurity
- Workplace Ombudsman replaced by Office of the Fair Work Ombudsman
- Workplace Authority part split off to form Office of the Fair Work Ombudsman
- Department of Immigration and Citizenship part split off to form Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority
2009
- Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism part split off to form Australian Centre for Renewable Energy
- Biosecurity Australia absorbed into Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
1 July 2008
- Australian Competition and Consumer Commission functions transferred to Australian Energy Regulator
- Invest Australia absorbed into Australian Trade Commission
- Australian Film Commission part split off to form National Film and Sound Archive of Australia
- Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts part split off to form Old Parliament House
- Australian Film Commission merged into Screen Australia
- Australian Film Finance Corporation merged into Screen Australia
- Film Australia Limited merged into Screen Australia
- Wheat Export Authority renamed to Wheat Exports Australia
2008
- Bureau of Transport and Regional Economics renamed to Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics
- Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination absorbed into Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
- Department of Climate Change part split off to form Greenhouse and Energy Data Officer
- National Breast Cancer Centre renamed to National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre
3 December 2007
- Department of Transport and Regional Services functions transferred to Attorney-General's Department
- Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts part split off to form Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
- Australian Greenhouse Office part split off to form Department of Climate Change
- Department of the Environment and Water Resources part split off to form Department of Climate Change
- Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet part split off to form Department of Climate Change
- Department of Employment and Workplace Relations merged into Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
- Department of Education, Science and Training part split off to form Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
- Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs part split off to form Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
- Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs renamed to Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
- Department of Finance and Administration renamed to Department of Finance and Deregulation
- Productivity Commission part split off to form Department of Finance and Deregulation
- Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts functions transferred to Department of Health and Ageing
- Department of Transport and Regional Services renamed to Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government
- Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources part split off to form Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
- Department of Education, Science and Training part split off to form Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
- Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources part split off to form Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism
- Department of the Environment and Water Resources renamed to Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
- Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts part split off to form Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
- Australian Greenhouse Office part split off to form Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts