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MINISTERIAL CHANGES
I have today recommended to His Excellency the Governor-General
changes in the Ministry consequent upon expanding activity in
the energy field and consequent also upon other ministerial
vacancies. His Excellency has indicated that he will swear
Ministers affected by the changes at Government House at 10.00 a. m.
tomorrow. Senator Webster, Minister for Science and the Environment, has
indicated an interest in serving in another capacity outside the
Parliament. The Government proposes to appoint Senator Webster
as High Commissioner to New Zealand. The Government attaches
great importance to the closest contact between the two
administrations, and Senator Webster's understanding of the
innermost processes of Government will add to the significance
of our representation in New Zealand.
Senator Webster has served in the Government with distinction,
and as Minister for Science and the Environment has presided over
the successful amalgamation of those portfolio interests, the
restructuring of CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology, and
development of Australia's activity in Antarctic affairs.
Coincidentally there has been a steady growth in Australia/ New
Zealand co-operation in the scientific field, a development
with which Senator Webster is closely identified. I am sure
Australia will be well served by Senator Webster's continuing
contribution in this new field.
Because of the growing importance of energy policy, and its
inter-relationship with other major areas of Government activity,
I have decided that it will be more workable in the period ahead
to make this area the responsibility of a senior Minister in the
Cabinet. There is a close affinity between energy matters and
a number of other portfolio interests. The need for the closest
co-ordination with State Governments in the development of truly
national energy policies also requires that a senior Cabinet
Minister work in this area.
Availability and pricing of energy are fundamental to the effective
functioning of our economy, and indeed the world economy. The
development of our energy resources, in partnership with State
Governments and industry, interacts substantially for example / 2
2.
with private sector investment, growth of industry and
employment, trade policy, transport policy and foreign policy.
There is a need to strengthen our industrial base and encourage
to a greater extent the processing of minerals in Australia.
Australia is partly dependent on imported crude oil, but with
prudent and imaginative policies our abundance of other energy
reserves should be a growing source of prosperity in the years
ahead. I have recommended to the Governor-General that he appoint
Senator Carrick as Minister for the renamed portfolio of National
Development and Energy.
Senator Carrick will be giving priority to a number of major
issues in the period inmediately ahead including encouragement
of energy related projects approved by the Loan Council today and
further initiatives to expand coal fired electricity generation.
Other issues include the scope for encouraging greater use of
readily available electricity, natural gas, liquid petroleum
gas and coal; conservation; exploration; and alternative
technologies such as coal liquefaction, methanol from gas,
ethanol from vegetable products and shale oil.
Work has been proceeding on these and other issues under the
guidance of Mr Newman, and I record here with gratitude the
contribution he has made in developing a national energy policy
over the past two years.
Mr Newman will be the new Minister for Productivity. He will also
be Minister Assisting the Prime Minister in Federal Affairs, and
in that capacity will continue to have a co-ordinating role in
the follow-up of the Callaghan Report.
Mr Nixon, as an interim measure, has been carrying the portfolio
of Primary Industry as well as being Minister for Transport. As
from tomorrow, Mr Nixon will continue as Minister for Primary
Industry but will relinquish the Transport portfolio.
In line with my view that Ministers should be given an opportunity
to become familiar with the wider area of government administration,
I have decided upon other Ministerial changes.
Mr Hunt will be the new Minister for Transport and will be a
member of the Cabinet. I have also recommended to the Governor-
General that Mr MacKellar be appointed Minister for Health,
Mr Macphee, Minister for Immigration, Mr Fife, Minister for
Education, and Mr Garland, Minister for Business and Consumer
Affairs. Two new Ministers will be appointed to the Ministry to take up
the vacant places. I have recommended that Senator Scott be
appointed Minister for Special Trade Representations and
Mr David Thomson, MC, be appointed Minister for Science and the
Environment. / 3
Consequent upon these Ministerial changes, there will be changes
in appointments as Minister Assisting. Mr MacKellar will be
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister; Senator Scott, Minister
Assisting the Minister for Trade and Resources; Senator Chancy,
Minister Assisting the Minister for National Development and
Energy; Mr Garland, Minister Assisting the Minister for Industry
and Commerce; Mr Macphee, Minister Assisting the Treasurer; and
as indicated above, Mr Newman will be Minister Assisting the Prime
Minister in Federal Affairs.
Appointments as Minister Assisting will also take effect from
tomorrow. Other than the change in title for the new Department
of National Development and Energy, there are no consequent
departmental changes; and no increase in the number of
Departments or the number of Ministers.
There is full opportunity for Ministers not in the Cabinet to
attend Cabinet discussions at any time their portfolio interests
are affected. There is no significance therefore in the order
in which portfolios as such are listed. Ministers are sworn in
order of Ministerial seniority and listed accordingly. The full
Ministry list is attached.
7 December 1979.
COM ! ONIWLALTH GOV ; ME; T
Third Fraser Ministry
PriLme Minister THE RT. HON. MALCOLM FPRASER, C. H
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for THE RT. iON. J. D. ANTiHONY, M. P.
Trade and Resources
Minister for Industry and Commerce THE RT. HON. PHILLIP LYNCH, M. P.
Minister for Primary Industry THE HON. P. J. NIXON, H. P.
Minister for National Development Energy, SENATOR THE HON. J. L. CARRiCK
Vice-President of the Executive Council
and Leader of the Government in the Senate
Minister for Industrial Relations TRE HON. A. A. STREET, M. P. M. P.
HON. JOHN HOWARD, M. P.
HON. AINDREW PEACOCK, M. P.
HON. D. J. KILLEN, M. P.
ATOR THE HON. MARGARET GUILFOYLE
HON. ERIC ROBINSON, H. P.
HON. IAN VINER, M. P.
ATOR THE HON. PETER DURACK, Q. C.
HON. RALPH J. HUNT, M. P.
HON. M. J. R. MACKELLAR, H. P.
HON. EVAN ADERMAINN, M. P.
HON. JOHN McLEAY, H. P.
HON. KEVIN NEWMAkN, M. P.
7. Treasurer TIHE
8. Minister for Foreign Affairs THE
9. Minister for Defence THE
Minister for Social Security SEN.
* 11. Minister for Finance THE
* 12. Minister for Employment and Youth Affairs THE
and Leader of the House
* 13. Attorney-General SEN
* 14. Minister for Transport THE
Minister for Health and Minister THE
Assisting the Prime Minister
16. Minister for Veterans' Affairs Minister THE
Assisting the Minister for Primary Industry
17. Minister for Administrative Services THE
Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence
18. Minister for Productivity and Minister THE
Assisting the Prime Minister in Federal
Affairs
19. Minister for Post and Telecommunications THE
2Minister for Immigration and Ethnic THE
Affairs and Minister Assisting the Treasurer
21. Minister for Education THE
22. Minister for Business and Consumer THE
Affairs and Minister Assisting the
Minister for Industry and Commerce
23. Minister for Home Affairs and Minister THE
for the Capital Territory
24. Minister for Housing and Construction THE
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and SEN
Minister Assisting the Minister for
National Development and Energy
26. Minister for Special Trade Representations SEN
and Minister Assisting the Minister
for Trade and Resources
27.' Minister for Science and the Environment THE A. A. STALEY, M. P.
IAN MACPHEE, M. P.
WAL FIFE, M. P.
R. V. GARLAND, M. P.
HON. R. J. ELLICOTT, M. P.
HON. RAY GROOM, M. P.
\ TOR THE HON. F. M. CHANEY
ATOR THE HON. DOUGLAS SCOTT
HON. DAVID THOMPSON, M. P.
Minister in the Cabinet
1. 6. 8 December 1979
HON. HON. HON. HON.