1978 Cabinet Records

Background to 1978

In 1978 the Commonwealth passed The Northern Territory (Self Government) Act 1978 establishing the Northern Territory as a distinct political entity under the Crown, with limited state-like powers, effective on the 1st July 1978. The Act gave the Northern Territory self-government, extending local autonomy to the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory, and providing power to the Administrator to grant or deny assent to proposed law. Following this, the first Ministry of the new Northern Territory Government was appointed and the Legislative Assembly was given authority and responsibility for the finances of the government of the Northern Territory.

In 1978, the Northern Territory Cabinet received submissions relating to:

• establishing the administration of the Northern Territory Government after self-government;
• local government for Katherine, Tennant Creek and “small and isolated communities”,
• Aboriginal health programs;
• the construction of community health centres;
• the development of the Ayers Rock Resort at Yulara;
• establishment of casinos in Darwin and Alice Springs;
• major project developments for the reconstruction of Darwin, including the Museum and Art Gallery at Bullocky Point;
• the development of the Araluen Cultural Complex in Alice Springs; and
• the McArthur River Project in the Gulf of Carpentaria region and the Ranger Uranium Project in the Alligator Rivers region.

The 1978 Cabinet submissions and decisions show the challenges and opportunities the first Cabinet of a newly self-governed Northern Territory had to meet in order to establish a governance framework.  Deliberations ranged over such matters as the introduction of new legislation following the transfer of powers from the Commonwealth, the establishment of various Northern Territory Public Service functions, approval of the 1978-79 budget, establishment of Government supply and tender boards, policy on regionalisation of government operations, civil works programs, law and order, motor vehicle registration charges, setting rates of stamp duty, and government advisory committees.

1978 Cabinet

Rear from left: Hon JM Robertson MLA (Minister for Community Development and Minister for Education; Hon IL Tuxworth MLA (Minister for Mines and Energy and Minister for Health, Hon RM Steele MLA (Minister for Transport and Works and Minister for Industrial Development).
Front from left: Hon PAE Everingham MLA (Chief Minister and Attorney General); Hon MB Perron MLA (Treasurer and Minister for Lands and Housing)

Link to photographs relating to the appointment of Self Government

First Everingham Ministry (from 1 July 1978)*

The Hon Paul Anthony Edward Everingham, MLA
Chief Minister, Attorney-General

The Hon Marshall Bruce Perron, MLA
Treasurer, Minister for Lands and Housing

The Hon Ian Lindsay Tuxworth, MLA
Minister for Health, Minister for Mines and Energy
                       
The Hon James Murray Robertson, MLA
Minister for Community Development, Minister for Education

The Hon Roger M Steele, MLA
Minister for Industrial Development, Minister for Transport and Works

*Prior to NT Self-Government on 1 July 1978, these ministers comprised the First Everingham Executive but with different portfolios.

Using the records

To assist in using the Cabinet records, the Cabinet Office has developed the following documents:

• Highlights to 1978 Cabinet Records
• Index to Cabinet Submissions and Decisions - 1978 (NTRS 3353/P2)
• Selected 1978 Cabinet Documents

The Cabinet Office in the Department of the Chief Minister provides secretariat services to Cabinet and the Executive Council and is the agency responsible for the series with the following items available for public access for the first time from the 1 January 2009;

Main Series
Series	Title	Description	Series Date Range
NTRS 2575	Cabinet submissions and decisions	Cabinet submissions, decisions, and associated papers including budget information Volumes 5-17, Meeting number 28 on the 7 December 1977 to Meeting number 64 on the 22 December 1978, are open from 1 January 2009	1971-2003
NTRS 3353	Index to Cabinet submissions and decisions	Annual indexes, created by the Cabinet Office to assist with accessing the volumes. The index provides details of the meeting number, meeting date, decision number, and title of submission	1977-1978
Related Series
Series	Title	Description	Series Date Range
NTRS 3351	Executive Council meeting papers	Agenda and business papers with related attachments Volumes 1-16 are open from 1 January 2009	1969-1979
NTRS 3352	Index to Executive Council meeting papers	An index created by the Cabinet Office in 2008 to assist with accessing the meeting papers. The index lists business papers submitted to each meeting Index 1978 is open from 1 January 2009	1977-1979
NTRS 3354	Copyprints relating to members of the Northern Territory Cabinet	Copyprints taken from original photographs of the first Ministry. Image number 1 is open for access from the 1 January 2009	ca 1978- ca 1979

Contact Details

Telephone: (08) 8924 7677
Email: nt.archives@nt.gov.au

 

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