F 76/ 17
-1,; AUSRA L IA
FOR PRESS 2 February 1976
REVIEW OF BODIES CONDUCTING. INQUIRIES
The Government has completed a review of over fifty bodies
of various kinds which have been conducting inquiries for the
Commonwealth. As a result of this review it has been decided that 14 bodies
will be terminated immediately.
The remaining bodies have been given specific dates by which
they will be expected to report. Most are expected to complete
their activities by 30 June 1976.
The bodies whose activities are to be terminated and those
which are being directed or asked to report by certain dates
are shown on the attached list.
It has also been decided to introduce other measures designed
to keep the costs of continuing inquiries to a minimum.
These include the elimination as far as possible of overseas
and internal travel, restrictions on use of consultants and
maximum use of available departmental resources.
The Australian Government Publishing Service is to be made
responsible for publishing reports and will aim at making
significant savings on current estimates of their costs.
Ministers are being asked to review the operations of the large
number of continuing advisory bodies within their portfolios, with
the aim of reducint their number and making savings in their operations.
./ 2
2.
In addition the Government has decided that. the Social
Welfare Commission and the Australian Housing Corporation,
should be abolished while the functions of the Australian
Development Assistance Agency and the Road Safety and Standards
Authority should be taken over by Government Departments..
The Government has taken these decisions on the basis
that the functions of the four bodies concerned can be
carried out more efficiently and cheaply and more properly
under Ministerial and Parliamentary control if conducted
within a departmental framework.
The decision to abolish the Social Welfare Commission confirms
a decision of the previous Government.
The only function presently being performed by the Australian
Housing Corporation is the administration of the Defence
Service Homes Scheme. The Government is examining the best
method of administering this Scheme and will be consulting
with the R. S. L. in the matter.
The Australian Development Assistance Agency is to be converted
into a Bureau of Overseas Aid in the Department of Foreign
Affairs, while the Road Safety and Standards Authority is to
be incorporated in the Department of Transport.
In addition, the Australian Drug Advisory Council is
to be abolished immediately.
INQUIRIES BEING TERMINATED
BUSII\ ESS AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS
Wocking party on restrictive trade practices
ENVIRONMENT, HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
National recreation survey task force
River Murray working party
Study group into feasibility of a National
Sports Institute
HEALTH Interim Committee for the production of
pharmaceutical products
Committee to review radio pharmaceuticals,
radio chemicals and radio biologicals
IMMIGRATION AND ETHNIC AFFAIRS
Survey of Vietnamese refugees in Australia
INDUSTRY AND COMMIERCE
Committee to advise on policies for
manufacturing industry
POST AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Australianu advisory committee on media research
PRIMARY INDUSTRY
Special Committee on apple and pear juice
Special Committee to examine the problems
of the wine and brandy industry
SCIENCE
Advisory Committee on research into crown
of thorns starfish
SOCIAl SECURITY
Advisory Panel of Architects on aged
persons homes
Social Security Advisory Council
BODIES BEING DIRECTED TO
REPORT BY D.\ TES INDICATED
BODY
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES ( RC Royal Commission)
Alleged payments to maritime unions
( RC) Report
Australian Government Report b
Administration ( RC)
Human Relationships ( RC) Report b
Inquiry into Land Tenures Report b
Intelligence and Security ( RC) Report b
Maritime Industry Commission of
Inquiry Report b
Noifolk Island ( RC) Report b
Petroleum and petroleum products ( RC) Report b
Public Libraries Committee of Inquiry Report b
Tasmanian Transport Charges Commission Report b
of Inquiry
EDUCATION Working party on the transition
from school to work
Katherine rural college planning
committee Report b
Working party on English as a
second language, Materials for 31 ecee
Aboriginal children and adults
Committee on teaching of migrant Report b
languages in schools
Interim ACT authority for
technical and further education
working party on arr. ngrents for
training technical teachers
after 1976
Committee of Inquiry into post
secondary education in Tasmania Report b
Working party on rehabilitation needs
and geriatrics Report i
Working party on clinical
pharmac ology DATE
by 30 April 1976
y 30 June 1976
y 31 December " 1976
) y 5 March 1976
) y 30 June 1976
y 30 April 1976
y 31 May 1976
y 31 May 1976
iy 30 March 1976
ly 5 March 1976
y 30 June 1976
y 30 April 1976
. task by
ber 1976
y 31 March 1976
ta. sk by
1 976
y 29 February 1976
immediately y 29 February 1976
EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRIAL
RELATIONS Northrup study o: future
arrangements for the
Australian stevedoring Industry
ENVIRONMENT. HOUSING AND
COM UNITY DEVELOPMENT
Fraser Island Inquiry
Ranger Uranium Inquiry
HEALTH Committee of Inquiry into
chiropractic, Homeopathy,
Osteopathy and Naturopathy
POST AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Program standards advisory committee Report by 29 February 1976
Report by 31 March1976
Report by 30 June 1976
Report by 30 April 1976
Report by 29 February 1976
REPATRIATION Independent non-Parliamentary
Inquiry into the repatriation
system SOCIAL SECURITY
National superannuation Committee
of Inquiry
Poverty Inquiry Report immediately
Report by 30 June 1976
Report by 30 June 197t