AGY-3 | Department of Transport and Highways (1952) / Department of Motor Transport (1952-1989)

Full description

The New South Wales Transport and Highways Commission was established by the Transport and Highways Act, 1950 and exercised a supervisory role over the Department of Transport and Highways from its commencement until 25 August 1952. This Commission’s purpose was to plan for the provision of an ‘efficient, adequate, economical and properly integrated system of public transport’ (1) The Commission had wide powers enabling it to:

ensure that the branches of the Ministry of Transport were efficiently conducted;
review policy for the development of transport throughout the State;
consider and make recommendations concerning any proposal from the agencies, which comprised the Ministry of Transport and co-ordinate, their annual budgets, and
‘control and direct’ the branches of the Ministry.

In order to perform these functions the Commission could inspect the offices and examine records and have access to all properties and other assets. (2)

Under the Transport (Division of Functions) Amendment Act, 1952 (Act No. 15, 1952), the Department of Road Transport and Tramways, which was concerned with both public and private transport, was divided into two departments known as the Department of Transport and Highways and the Department of Government Tram and Omnibus Services.(3) The Transport (Division of Functions) Further Amendment Act, 1952, (Act No. 24, 1952) altered the names of these departments to the Department of Motor Transport and the Department of Government Transport respectively. (4)

The Department of Motor Transport’s main responsibilities were the registration of private and privately owned commercial motor vehicles and the licensing of drivers; the administration of the compulsory third party insurance scheme; the collection of taxes payable in connection with the registration of vehicles and of charges towards road maintenance payable by certain heavy motor lorries; the licensing of ferries in Port Jackson; intra-state commercial aircraft; paid motor vehicle driving instructors and dealers in second hand motor vehicles and parts; and the provision of traffic lights, signals and other facilities. (5)

In January 1989, under the terms of the Transport Administration Act (No. 109, 1988), the Department of Main Roads was abolished and amalgamated with the Department of Motor Transport and the Traffic Authority of New South Wales to form the Roads and Traffic Authority. (6) The Act was proclaimed to commence on 16 January 1989 which is the date the Department ceased to exist. (7)

ENDNOTES:
(1) Transport and Highways Act, 1950 (Act N0 10, 1950) s. 8 (1) (a).
(2) Ibid s. 9.
(3) Transport (Division of Functions) Amendment Act, 1952, s. 2.
(4) Transport (Division of Functions) Further Amendment Act, 1952 s.4.
(5) Archives Authority of NSW. Concise Guide, . "Ma - Pl", "Motor Transport" p.1.
(6) Transport Administration Act , 1988 s.46.
(7) New South Wales Government Gazette No.3, 16 January 1989, p.275.