Press Statement No. 509
June 1975
NEW MINISTRY
The Prime Minister tonight announced that he had
recommended to His Excellency the Governor-General, Sir John
Kerr, changes in his ministry consequent upon the resignation
of Mr Lance Barnard from the House of Representatives and the
appointment of Mr J. M. Riordan to the Executive Council.
The Governor-General has agreed to the proposed
changes and to an announcement. Sir John has indicated that
he proposes to swear Ministers in their new portfolios tomorrow
morning at 10.00 a. m.
The Ministry changes will be:-
Dr Cairns, Deputy Prime Minister, becomes Minister for
Environment instead of Treasurer.
Mr Hayden becomes Treasurer instead of Minister for
Social Security.
Senator Douglas McClelland becomes Special Minister of
State instead of Minister for the Media.
Dr Patterson becomes Minister for Northern Australia
instead of Minister for Northern Development an~ d
Minister for the Northern Territory.
Mr Cameron becomes Minister for Science and Consumer
Affairs instead of Minister for Labor and Immigration.
Mr Bowen becomes Minister for Manufacturing Industry
instead of Special Minister of State.
Senator Wheeldon becomes Minister for Social Security
as well as Minister for Repatriation and Compensation.
Mr Johnson becomes Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
instead of Minister for Housing and Construction.
Senator J. R. McClelland becomes Minister for Labor
and Immigration instead of Minister for Manufacturing
Industry. / 2
' S -2-
Dr Cass becomes Minister for the Media instead of
Minister for Environment.
Senator Cavanagh becomes Minister for Police and Customs
instead of Minister for Aboriginal Affairs.
Mr Morrison becomes Minister for Defence instead of
Minister for Science.
Mr Riordan will be appointed minister for Housing and
Construction. The social welfare and rehabilitation activities of
the Government are to be more closely co-ordinated and
managed under the new arrangements. One Minister, Senator
Wheeldon, will now be responsible for both the Departments
of Social Security and Re. ha-ilitatinn and Compensation.
In addition to this significant change, the Social
Welfare Commission will, under later legislation, be
abolished and the work of the Commission will be carried
out by a bureau within the Department of Social Security.
Senator Wheeldon will also take over from the
Special Minister of State the co-ordination of the
rehabilitation functions and the National Advisory Council
for the Handicapped. For the present, Mr Hayden will have responsibility
for the continuing negotiations with the States over Medibank
and will have access to the Department of Social Security
about policy matters affecting Medibank.
In other moves to rationalise and co-ordinate
administrative functions, Mr Whitlam said the Department
of Northern Development and the Department of the Northe-rn
Territory would become the Department of Northern Australia
under Dr Patterson. The Government's industrial relations policies in
the private and public sectors will be more closely linked.
by giving responsibility in both areas to one Minister.
Senator J. McClelland as well as being Minister for Labor
and Immigration will also assist the Prime Minister on
Public Service matters.
The acquisition, leasing and disposal of land and
buildings in'Australia on behalf of the Australian Government
are important activities in the pursuit of the Government's
urban and regional development policies. It therefore has
been decided to transfer these functions to the Department
of Urban and Regional Development. The Department of
Services and Property continues to retain the control and
management functions of the property. / 3
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The Minister for Urban and Regional Development
will become responsible for the Australian Housing Corporation
Act 1975 passed recently by the Parliament. Under later
legislation, the Cities Commission will be abolished, its
functions to be carried out by the Department of Urban and
Regional Development. The Australian Industry Development Corporation
Act now administered by the Treasury will be transferred
to the administration of the Minister for Manufacturing
Industry. The Department of Science will now be the
Department of Science and Consumer Affairs.
The Australian Universities Commission and the
Commission on Advanced Education will be merged under
legislation to be introduced.
In other changes the Department of Services and
Property will take over the Government purchasing function
now exercised by the Department of Special Minister of
State. The Postmaster-General will be responsible for
the administration of the Telecommunications Commission
and the Postal Commission. The Australian Film Commission
to be established under legislation recently passed by the
Parliament will come under the Prime Minister's own administration.
The Department of Minerals and Energy will take over responsibility
for the Minerals Research Laboratories and the Solar Energy
Studies Unit.