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Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government

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Formed
  
14 September 2010

Dissolved
  
14 December 2011

Preceding Department
  
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government

Superseding agency
  
Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport

Jurisdiction
  
Commonwealth of Australia

Minister responsible
  
Simon Crean, Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government

The Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government was an Australian Government department that existed between September 2010 and December 2011.

Contents

Functions

In an Administrative Arrangements Order made on 14 September 2010, the functions of the department were broadly classified into the following matters:

  • Administration of the Jervis Bay Territory, the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands, the Territory of Christmas Island, the Coral Sea Islands Territory, the Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands, and of Commonwealth responsibilities on Norfolk Island
  • Constitutional development of the Northern Territory
  • Constitutional development of the Australian Capital Territory
  • Delivery of regional and rural specific services
  • Planning and land management in the Australian Capital Territory
  • Regional development
  • Matters relating to local government
  • Regional Australia policy and co-ordination
  • Support for ministers and parliamentary secretaries with regional responsibilities

    • Intended outcomes

    The department worked to help the Government of the day achieve its policy objectives by contributing to, and reporting against two key outcomes. The 2010–11 departmental annual report (which was the only annual report released by the department during its short period of operation) identified the outcomes as:

  • Coordinated community infrastructure in rural, regional and local government areas through financial assistance.
  • Good governance in the Australian territories through the maintenance and improvement of the overarching legislative framework for self-governing territories and laws and services for non self-governing territories.

    • Structure

    During its life, the Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government was accountable to Simon Crean as the Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government.

    The Department was staffed by Australian Public Service officials and headed by a Secretary, Glenys Beauchamp. The Department’s staff numbered approximately 330.

    References

    Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA