6th Parliament
Elected 5 September 1914 · first met 8 October 1914 · dissolved 26 March 1917
The changes below took effect from its election on 5 September 1914 to 4 May 1917, the day before the next election, so they count the work of the government it produced.
- Joseph Cook (Commonwealth Liberal)
- Andrew Fisher (Labor)
- Billy Hughes (Labor)
- Billy Hughes (National Labor)
- Billy Hughes (Nationalist)
Changes
13
2 renamed from1 absorbed7 split from2 took over functions from1 replaced
Departments of State
3 / 2
created / abolished
Other bodies
21 / 14
created / ended
Administrative Arrangements Orders
1
on the Federal Register, which holds few orders before 2001
The biggest reshuffle took effect on 14 November 1916, when 4 changes landed on one day.
What was happening
- First World War · 4 August 1914 to 11 November 1918 · Australia at war from the British declaration to the Armistice. (War or armed conflict)
Departments of State created (3)
- Department of the Navy 1915–1921
- Department of Home and Territories 1916–1928
- Department of Works and Railways 1916–1932
Departments of State abolished (2)
- Department of External Affairs 1901–1916
- Department of Home Affairs 1901–1916
Other bodies created (21)
Show all 21 bodies created
- Australian Wheat Board 1915–1921
- Commonwealth Woollen Mills 1915–1923
- Royal Commission on Mail Services and Trade Development between Australia and the New Hebrides 1915
- Royal Commission on Liverpool Military Camp, New South Wales 1915
- Australian Soldiers' Repatriation Fund 1916–1918
- Commonwealth Government Line of Steamers 1916–1921
- Commonwealth Serum Laboratories 1916–1961
- Counter Espionage Bureau 1916–1917
- Advisory Council of Science and Industry 1916–1920
- Royal Commission on the Charges made by D. L. Gilchrist concerning the Construction of the Western Section of the Kalgoorlie to Port Augusta Railway 1916
- Commonwealth Prices Adjustment Board 1916
- Royal Commission to Inquire into and Report upon Certain Charges against the Administrator and Other Officers of the Northern Territory Administration 1916
- Royal Commission on Federal Capital Administration 1916–1917
- Commonwealth Prices Board 1916–1918
- Central Wool Committee 1916–1921
- Commonwealth Board of Censors 1917–1928
- Commonwealth Railways 1917–1975
- River Murray Commission 1917–1988
- Special Intelligence Bureau 1917–1919
- Royal Commission on Java and the East Indies, Singapore and the Straits Settlements 1917–1918
- Australian War Records Section 1917–1919
Other bodies ended (14)
Show all 14 bodies ended
- Commonwealth Vaccine Depot 1911–1916
- Administrator of the Federal Capital Territory 1912–1917
- Royal Commission on the Pearl-Shelling Industry 1912–1916
- Royal Commission on the Fruit Industry 1912–1914
- Royal Commission on Powellised Timber 1913–1914
- Royal Commission upon the Commonwealth Electoral Law and Administration 1914–1915
- Royal Commission on the Meat Export Trade 1914
- Royal Commission on Food Supplies and Trade and Industry during the War 1914
- Royal Commission on Mail Services and Trade Development between Australia and the New Hebrides 1915
- Royal Commission on Liverpool Military Camp, New South Wales 1915
- Counter Espionage Bureau 1916–1917
- Royal Commission on the Charges made by D. L. Gilchrist concerning the Construction of the Western Section of the Kalgoorlie to Port Augusta Railway 1916
- Commonwealth Prices Adjustment Board 1916
- Royal Commission to Inquire into and Report upon Certain Charges against the Administrator and Other Officers of the Northern Territory Administration 1916
Administrative Arrangements Orders made
- Order of 22 September 1915 · Federal Register of Legislation
Every change (13)
Show every change, day by day
1917
- Department of Trade and Customs part split off to form Commonwealth Board of Censors
- Department of Works and Railways part split off to form Commonwealth Railways
- Administrator of the Federal Capital Territory absorbed into Department of Home and Territories
14 November 1916
- Department of Home Affairs part split off to form Department of Home and Territories
- Department of External Affairs part split off to form Department of Home and Territories
- Department of Home Affairs part split off to form Department of Works and Railways
- Department of External Affairs functions transferred to Prime Minister's Department
1 July 1916
- Postmaster-General's Department functions transferred to Department of the Navy
12 July 1915
- Department of Defence part split off to form Department of the Navy
1915
- Department of Defence part split off to form Commonwealth Woollen Mills