AGY-5154 | Premier's Department [I]

Full description

Establishment of the Premier’s Department
The establishment of a separate Premier’s Department appears to have occurred in the 1908-09 financial year.(1) The Premier’s Office, which had been a branch of the Department of Attorney-General and of Justice formed the basis of the new Premier’s Department. In 1909, the Premier’s Department consisted of:(2)

i) Premier’s Office – transferred from the Department of Attorney-General and of Justice;
ii) Office of Executive Council – responsibility for the Office had been transferred from the Chief Secretary to the Premier on 22 January 1908 (3);
iii) Agent-General’s Office – transferred from the Attorney-General and of Justice;
iv) Immigration and Tourist Bureau – formerly the Intelligence Department, transferred from the Attorney-General and of Justice;
v) Caves – responsibility for Caves in the state had been transferred from the Secretary for Mines and Agriculture to the Premier on 31 July 1907. (4)

From 1907 until 1914, the Under Secretary of the Ministerial Department in which the Premier was located, also acted as Under Secretary of the Premier's Office / Department. The Under Secretary of the Department of the Attorney General and of Justice was appointed to this position on 2 October 1907, succeeded by the Under Secretary for Finance and Trade in the Colonial Treasurer's Department on 22 October 1910 and the Under Secretary, Colonial Secretary's Office on 1 December 1911. (5)

In 1910, responsibility for the State Government House and Norfolk Island Affairs were added to the Premier’s Department. (6) In 1913, the Premier’s Department also became responsible for the Immigration Department, London in addition to the Immigration and Tourist Bureau.

From 1 March 1914, the Premier's Department was reconstituted as a separate Department with a Secretary as Permanent Head. It was charged with business connected with:

i) The two Houses of Parliament, including the official publications of the Debate;
ii) Foreign correspondence;
iii) Correspondence with: (a) The Commonwealth, Colonial and State Governments; (b) The President of the Legislative Council and the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly; (c) The Foreign consuls;
iv) the Agency-General in London;
v) the Immigration and Tourist Bureau;
vi) such other duties as may be required. (7)

Departmental Responsibilities and History 1910s to 1970s
Since 1914 there have been numerous variations in the structure and functions of the Premier’s Department.

On 28 October 1918, the Immigration and Tourist Bureau was disbanded and the immigration section transferred to the Labour Exchanges and Immigration Branch of the Department of Labour and Industry, although the staff were not transferred until 1 January 1919. (8) The Tourist Bureau was transferred to the Chief Secretary's Department. (9)

In 1924 the designation of the Permanent Head was changed from Secretary to Under Secretary and remained so until 1978 when it reverted to Secretary. (10) In 1926, the Auditor General's Department was transferred to the ministerial control of the Premier's Office. (11)

Transfer of the Government Cleaning Service from the Premier’s Department to the Government Stores Department, Department of the Treasury took place from 6 August 1935. (12) On the same date, issue of travelling concessions to incapacitated returned soldiers was transferred to the Department of the Ministry of Transport. (13) In September, control of the Letter Delivery Bureau was transferred from the Premier’s Department to the Department of Lands. (14)

In 1945, the Reconstruction and Development Division of the agency was expanded and organised into three sections dealing respectively with the organisation of the State on a regional basis, development within State boundaries of secondary industries and the publicity and correspondence work of the division. (15) The work associated with secondary industries was then transferred to the Department of Labour and Industry and Social Welfare upon the establishment of a Secondary Industries Division in that department. (16) The Department of Building Materials was established in 1947 under the control of the Minister for Building Materials, the Hon. C.H. Matthews, M.L.A.

On 30 September 1952, the Department of Secondary Industries and Building Materials as it was then known was disbanded, and it was necessary for the Premier’s Department to provide for some of the functions which could not be discontinued so a Division of Development was established within the Premier’s Department for that purpose. The Division’s staff consisted of nine surplus staff of the former Department of Secondary Industries and Building Materials. (17) Upon the disbandment of the Department of Secondary Industries and Building Materials the administrative records were transferred to the Premier's Department and applications for permission to build or use building materials dating from 1949 to 1952 were transferred to the Department of Labour and Industry. (18)

In the 1952-53 financial year, the Secondary Industries Branch of the Department of Labour and Industry and Social Welfare was transferred to the Premier’s Department.(19) By 1958, the Secondary Industries Branch had become a Division and was combined with the Regional Planning Section to become the Division of Industrial Development. (20) On 19 March 1962, the Division of Industrial Development was transferred from the Premier’s Department to the control of the Treasury. (21)

Departmental Responsibilities and History 1970s to 1988
Following the 1975 Review of the Machinery of Government new divisions and associated organisations were established within the department. The Office of the Ombudsman, the Promotions Appeal Tribunal and the Women's Advisory Board, together with the Division of Communications and the Division of Federal Affairs were established early in 1975. (22)

The Communications Division formally ceased to function on 27th July 1976, and certain personnel were transferred to the Department of Services. (23)

During the 1976-77 financial year, the Premier’s Department assumed a wider functional role and underwent a marked increase in size. Major changes included the establishment of the following organisations:

i) Ethnic Affairs Commission;
ii) Women’s Advisory Council and Women’s Co-ordination Unit in lieu of the Women’s Advisory Board;
iii) Office of the Anti-Discrimination Board;
iv) Office of the Counsellor for Equal Opportunity;
v) Policy Co-ordination, Analysis and Research Division;
vi) Industry Development Branch;
vii) Ministerial Advisory Unit. (24)

The Industrial Development Branch appears to have subsequently become a Unit and was established within the Premier’s Department principally to service the Development Corporation of New South Wales which, in general terms, provided expert advice and recommendations to the State Government on ways in which it believed balanced development of the State could be promoted. The Unit was also intended to provide information and advice to the Premier on industrial development issues as required. (25)

There were also significant changes to the existing branches of the Premier’s Department during the 1976-77 financial year following reviews of their organisation and functions. A Special Projects Division was created under the charge of the Senior Administrative Assistant (presumably to replace the Special Projects Division mentioned at (i) below) with responsibility for the Research Section, the newly created Executive Support Group, the Project Officers, and the Relief Section. (26)

Also during the 1976-77 financial year, the Head Office of the Premier’s Department was restructured into six divisions and the following changes made:

i) removal of the Special Projects Division;
ii) reforming of the Secretariat-Cabinet Division into a Cabinet and Parliamentary Division with certain changes in function and activity;
iii) establishment of a Community Relations Division;
iv) establishment of a Policy Co-ordination, Analysis and Research Division; and
v) redesignation of the Administrative Division as the Management Division with certain changes involving additional areas of responsibility. (27)

As a result of these changes, the Premier’s Department included the following Divisions in 1977:

i) Cabinet and Parliamentary Division – headed by an Assistant Under Secretary and consisted of five branches: Cabinet and Parliamentary, Justice and Consumer Affairs, Social Development, Industrial Resources, Development Co-ordinating, and the Relief Branch was also incorporated within the Division;

ii) Community Relations Division – headed by an Assistant Under Secretary and incorporated the Ethnic Affairs Division, the Ethnic Affairs Commission, Police Branch, Industrial Development Branch, Women’s Co-ordination Unit, Science and Technology Council, Anti-Discrimination Board, Office of the Counsellor for Equal Opportunity, and Ombudsman’s Office;

iii) Policy Co-ordination, Analysis and Research Division – headed by a Director and consisted of the new Policy Co-ordination and Analysis Bureau, and the existing Research Branch;

iv) Cultural Activities Division – comprised of a Central Administration and a number of constituent Cultural Institutions;

v) Protocol Division - the Ceremonial and Hospitality Section was slightly restructured and redesignated the Protocol Division;

vi) Management Division. (28)

In December 1978 the Policy, Co-ordination, Analysis and Research Division and the Administrative Assistants group were abolished and replaced by two Special Project Groups. These groups dealt with special projects, task forces, effectiveness reviews, monitoring implementation and policy programs and developments between the Commonwealth and State. (29)

The administration of the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Domain and Centennial Park was transferred from the Department of Agriculture to the Premier’s Department in 1979. As a result of the passing of the Ethnic Affairs Commission Bill, the Ethnic Affairs Division was amalgamated with the Ethnic Affairs Commission. In April 1979, the Development Corporation of New South Wales was transferred from the Premier’s administration to that of the Minister for Mineral Resources and Development. On 1 May 1979, the New South Wales Science and Technology Council was transferred from the Premier’s administration to the Minister for Industrial Relations, Technology and Energy. A Community Programs Unit was created to co-ordinate the annual activities of Carnivale, Senior Citizens’ Week, the Premier’s Department Royal Easter Show Exhibit and other lesser community programs. (30)

In 1983, the Department was described in the following way: "the primary responsibility of the Premier's Department is to provide services to the Premier who fulfils the roles of Head of Government and Chairman of Cabinet. The Department is a central source of advice to the Premier and the point from which the formulation and implementation of government policy is coordinated. The department is involved primarily in the area of community relations, cultural activities, industrial development, promotion of overseas trade, policy formulation and monitoring and implementation of government proposals." (31)

On 15 April 1983, the Property Advisory Management Committee was removed from the Housing Commission of New South Wales and added to the Premier’s Department. (32) The State Electoral Office was removed from the Premier’s Department and established as a Department on 16 March 1983 (33) and in August, responsibility for Lord Howe Island was transferred from the administration of the Department of Local Government and Lands to the Premier’s Department. (34)

Newly established in 1983 were the Office of Special Development, the Office of Aged Services (September) and the Property Management Unit (May). (35)

In 1984, the Ombudsman’s Office was removed from the Premier’s Department and established as a separate Administrative Office. (36)

In 1985, the Ethnic Affairs Commission of New South Wales was removed from the Premier’s Department and established as a separate Administrative Office. (37) On 20 August 1986, the branch of the Art Gallery of New South Wales was removed from the Premier’s Department and added to the new Administrative Office of Minister for the Arts.( 38) In addition, the following branches were removed from the Premier’s Department and added to the Department of Environment and Planning: Archives Office of New South Wales (together with the Government Records Repository and the Records Management Office); Australian Museum; Centennial Park; the group of staff attached to the Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales; Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences; Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain; and the State Library of New South Wales. (39) Responsibility for Lord Howe Island was transferred from the administration of the Premier’s Department to the Department of Local Government. (40)

During 1987-88, the activities of the Premier's Department fell into three broad categories:

a) functions directly related to the Premier as the occupant of that office;
b) functions traditionally and constitutionally associated with the Premier's administration; and
c) functions directly related to the Premier as Minister of the Crown in addition to his responsibilities as Premier. (41)

Changes and Abolition 1988
In 1988, there were significant administrative changes within the Premier's Department. The Women’s Co-ordination Unit was removed from the Premier’s Department and added to the Department of Family and Community Services. The Youth Co-ordination Unit was removed from the Premier’s Department and added to the Ministry of Education and Youth Affairs on 25 March 1988. (42)

On 13 April 1988, The Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs was abolished and its branches were added to the new Office of Aboriginal Affairs within the Premier’s Department. (43) On the same date, the following organisations were removed from the Premier’s Department and added to the Attorney General’s Department:

i) Anti-Discrimination Board;
ii) Equal Opportunity Tribunal;
iii) Government and Related Employees Appeal Tribunal. (44)

Also on the 13 April 1988, the following branches were removed from the Premier’s Department and added to the Department of State Development:

i) Defence Industry Office;
ii) Office of State Development;
iii) Quality Assurance Unit. (45)

Responsibility for the Sydney Opera House was transferred from the administration of the Premier’s Department to the Office of the Minister for the Arts on 4 May 1988. (46) Branches from the Department of State Development (a subordinate agency of the Premier’s Department) were removed from the Premier’s Department on 11 May 1988 and added to [the Department of] Business and Consumer Affairs. (47)

On 15 June 1988, the Premier’s Department was abolished and replaced with the Premier’s Office and the Cabinet Office which were established as Departments. (48) Former responsibilities of the Premier’s Department were transferred to the newly created Premier’s Office, Cabinet Office, Department of Administrative Services, and the National Parks and Wildlife Services. (49)

ENDNOTES
1. NSW Public Service Lists (Blue Books) 1908 and 1909.
2. NSW Public Service Lists, 1909, p.2.
3. NSW Government Gazette No.8, 23 January 1908, p.431.;
4. NSW Government Gazette No.90, 31 July 1907, p.4229.;
5. Public Service Lists, 1907-1914.
6. Public Service Lists, 1910.
7. NSW Government Gazette No.71, 22 April 1914, p.2467.
8. NSW Government Gazette No.11, 24 January 1919, Vol.1, p.457.
9. loc. cit.
10. Premier’s Department Annual Report 1984, p.7.
11. Public Service Lists, 1927.
12. NSW Government Gazette, No.146, 9 August 1935, p.3316.
13. loc. cit.
14. NSW Government Gazette No.159, 6 September 1935.
15. Public Service Board Annual Report 1945, p.6.
16. Public Service Board (PSB) Annual Report, year ended 30 June 1946, PP 1946-47, vol.1 p.282.
17. Public Service Board Annual Report year ended 30 June 1953, p.26.
18. Concise Guide to the State Archives of NSW (P-R): Premier’s Department.
19. NSW Public Service Board Annual Report 1953, p.40.
20. NSW Public Service Board Annual Report 1958, p.22.
21. NSW Public Service Board Annual Report 1962, p.42, Parliamentary Papers (PP) 1962-63-64, vol.6.
22. NSW Public Service Board Annual Report year ended 30 June 1975, p79, PP 1975-76, vol.6, p.95.
23. NSW Public Service Board Annual Report 1977, p.78, PP 1976-77-78, vol.10, p.953.
24. NSW Public Service Board 1976-77, p78.
25. NSW Public Service Notices, 30 March 1977.
26. NSW Public Service Board Annual Report 1976-77, p.78.
27. NSW Public Service Board Annual Report 1976-77, p.78.
28. NSW Public Service Board Annual Report year ended 30 June 1977, p.79.
29. ibid., 1979, p.107.
30. NSW Public Service Board Annual Report year ended 30 June 1979, p.106, PP, 1979-80, vol.6, p.843.
31. Premier's Department Annual Report 1983, p.9.
32. NSW Government Gazette No.60, 15 April 1983, p.1701.
33. NSW Government Gazette No.52, 25 March 1983, p.1377.
34. NSW Government Gazette No.118, 24 August 1983 vol.3, p.3915.
35. Premier’s Department Annual Report 1983, pp11, 12 and 21.
36. NSW Government Gazette No.28, 24 February 1984, vol.1, p.1234.
37. NSW Government Gazette No.48, 1 March 1985, vol.1, p.932.
38. NSW Government Gazette No.134, 22 August 1986, vol.3, p.4054.
39. loc. cit.
40. NSW Government Gazette No.139, 5 September 1986, vol.3, p.4291.
41. Premier's Department Annual Report, 1987-88, p.4.
42. NSW Government Gazette No.65, 25 March 1988, vol.1, part 2, p.2041.
43. NSW Government Gazette No.73, 15 April 1988, vol.2, p.2270.
44. loc. cit.
45. loc. cit.
46. NSW Government Gazette No.82, 6 May 1988, vol.2, p.2486.
47. NSW Government Gazette No.85, 13 May 1988, vol.2, p.2650.
48. NSW Government Gazette No.101, 15 June 1988, vol.2, p.3167.
49. NSW Government Gazette No.102, 17 June 1988, vol.2, p.3171.