PR3 1/ 75
18th Dece-ber, 1975
The Governor-General, Sir John Kerr, has agreed to the swearing
in of a new Ministry on Monday, 22 December, and to the announcement
today of the proposed administrative arrangements.
The new administrative machinery expresses the Government's
deterination to undertake sound and economical management of the
nation's affairs.
Efficient and effective management of the Government's own
administration is essential both for the achievement of prosperity
and for genuine improvement in the position of the disadvantaged
and in the standard of life of all Australians.
The Government is determined to ensure that its administration
remains informed by practical considerations. Accordingly,
community groups, business and labour must have access to
Departments concerned with the practical, effective administration
of policy.
These considerations are expressed in the reduction in the number
of Departments, in the reallocation of functions between Departments,
and in the appointment of an inner Cabinet.
The number of Ministers is reduced from twenty-seven to twenty-four.
There will be a Cabinet of 12. The number of Departments is
reduced from 28 at present, to
An investigation will be made of all the functions presently
carried out by Federal Departments and authorities. The investigation
will be directed towards identifying those activities which either
ought not to be carried out at all, which might be carried out more
effectively and efficiently,. or which might be more appropriately
carried out by State or Local Government administrations.
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A statement will ba issued shortly concerning this investigation
which begins immediately. It will draw upon the
work of the Royal Com-nission on Australian Government Administration
which is expected to submit its report by April 1976.
The new Ministry will be:-
MINISTER
Hon. J. M. Fraser
* Rt. Hon. J. D. Anthony
Hon. P. R. Lynch
Hon. I. McC. Sinclair
d Sen. the Hon. R. G. Withers
Sen. the Hon. I. Greenwood
Sen. Hon. Hon. Sen. Hon. Hon. Sen. the Hon. R. C. Cotton
A. A. Street
P. J. Nixon
the Hon. J. L. Carrick
A. S. Peacock
D. J. Killen
the Hon. M. G. C. Guilfoy
Mr R. J. Ellicott, Q. C.
Mr J. W. Howard
SHon. R. V. Garland
Hon. R. J. D. Hunt
Mr M. J. R. MacKellar
Mr A. E. Adermann
Mr R. I. Viner
Mr E. L. Robinson
Hon. J. E. McLeay
Mr K. E. Nenwman
Senator J. J. Webster DEPARTMENT
Department of the Prime Minister Cabinet
National Resources. Overseas Trade.
Treasury. Primary Industry.
Administrative Services.
Environment, Housing and Community
Development. Industry and Commerce.
Employment and. Industrial Relations.
Transport. Education. Minister Assisting the Prime Minilster
in Federal Affairs.
Foreign Affairs.
Defence.
Le Social Security.
Attorney-General's.
Business and Consumer Affairs.
Postal and Telecommunications.
Health. Immigration and Ethnic Affairs.
Northern Territory.
Aboriginal Affairs.
Capital Territory.
Construction. Repatriation. Science.
Senator Withers is to be Vice-President of the Executive Council.
4ember of Inner Cabinet
* k
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A Minister Assisting the Prim a Minister in Federal Affairs
appointed for the first time in a Federal Ministry, reflects the
importance which this Government attaches to restoring and
promoting effective Federal/ State relations.
The Chief Government Whip in the House of Representatives is
Mr John Bourchier. The Government Whip in the Senate is
Senatdr F. M. Chaney. The assistant Government Whip in the
House of Representatives is Mr D. M. Cameron. The assistant
Government Whip in the Senate is Senator K. J. Martin.
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