PM Transcripts

STATEMENT TO THE HOUSE BY THE PRIME MINISTER
I inform the House of the following Ministerial changes.
The new Ministers were sworn in by His Excellency the Governor-
General earlier today.
Senator the Hon. J. L. Cavanagh has been appointed Minister for
Aboriginal Affairs. The Hon. Gordon Bryant has been appointed
Minister for the Capital Territory. The Hon. Les Johnson has
been appointed Minister for Works and the Hon. Kep Enderby has
been appointed Minister for Secondary Industry and Minister for
Supply. I inform the House also of the following additional Ministerial
changes not yet in effect but intended to be given effect in the
near future.
The Hon. Rex Patterson, who is at present representing the
Australian Government at the International Sugar Agreement
Conference and. who will return to Australia during next week,
will after his return be sworn in as Minister for the Northern
Territory. Also. after my visit to Japan where I am to represent
the Government as Minister for Foreign Affairs as well as Prime
Minister, and my -visit to ChinaSenator Willesee, who is
himself now abroad representing Australia at the United Nations
General. Assembly and other international meetings, will be
sworn in as Minister for Foreign Affairs.
The new arrangements will produce a more even and better
balanced distribution of the workload within the Cabinet.
In particular, some portfolios having common interests will be
brought together under one minister and the ultimate
amalgamation of the departments concerned thus facilitated,
I have already in one instance -the Department of Supply,
foreshadowed to the House a proposal for it's amalgamation
with another department. The rearrangement will also reduce
the heavy durdens previously falling to some senior Ministers.
As honourable members will be aware, the Minister for Repatriation
Senator Bishop, is ill. During his ansence the Minister for
the Capital Territory, Mr Bryant is acting Minister for
Repatriation. Mr Bryant is also representing the Minister for
Aboriginal Affairs in this House.
Canberra, 9 October, 1973