Introduction
This guide has Cabinet record information from 1978, including Cabinet decision highlights from that year, Cabinet members and a background to the Northern Territory and Australia in 1978.
Read the index to Cabinet submissions and decisions for 1978.
NT and Australia in 1978
This page has a historical overview of the Northern Territory (NT) and Australia in 1978.
In 1978 the Commonwealth passed the Northern Territory (Self Government) Act 1978, establishing the NT as a distinct political entity under the Crown, with limited state-like powers, effective on 1 July 1978.
The Act gave the NT self-government, extending local autonomy to the Legislative Assembly of the NT, and providing power to the Administrator to grant or deny assent to proposed law.
After this, the first Ministry of the new NT Government was appointed and the Legislative Assembly was given authority and responsibility for the finances of the government of the NT.
The 1978 Cabinet submissions and decisions show the challenges and opportunities the first Cabinet of a newly self-governed NT had to meet in order to establish a governance framework.
Cabinet submissions
In 1978, the NT Cabinet received submissions relating to all of the following:
- 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
- the McArthur River Project in the Gulf of Carpentaria region and the Ranger Uranium Project in the Alligator Rivers region.
Cabinet discussions
Cabinet deliberations ranged over the following matters:
- introduction of new legislation after the transfer of powers from the Commonwealth
- establishment of various NT public service functions
- approval of the 1978 to 1979 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
- government advisory committees.
1978 Cabinet records
This page lists the 1978 Cabinet records available for you to access through the Northern Territory Archives Service.
Main series | |||
---|---|---|---|
Series | Title | Description | Series date range |
NTRS 2575 | Cabinet submissions and decisions | Cabinet
submissions, decisions, and associated papers including budget information | 1971 to 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 to 1978 |
Related series | |||
Series | Title | Description | Series date range |
NTRS 3351 | Executive Council meeting papers | Agenda and
business papers with related attachments | 1969 to 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 | 1977 to 1979 |
NTRS 3354 | Copyprints relating to members of the Northern Territory Cabinet | Copyprints taken
from original photographs of the first Ministry. | ca 1978 to ca 1979 |
Members of 1978 Cabinet
This page shows the Northern Territory Government ministries in 1978.
First Everingham Ministry - from 1 July 1978
Before NT self-government on 1 July 1978, these ministers made up the First Everingham Executive, but with different portfolios.
Minister | Position |
---|---|
Hon PAE Everingham MLA | Chief Minister Attorney-General |
Hon MB Perron MLA | Treasurer Minister for Lands and Housing |
Hon IL Tuxworth MLA | Minister for Health Minister for Mines and Energy |
Hon James Murray Robertson MLA | Minister for Community Development Minister for Education |
Hon RM Steele MLA | Minister for Industrial Development Minister for Transport and Works |
Cabinet decisions
The documents on this page are highlights of 1978 Cabinet decisions.
You can access all Cabinet decisions at the Northern Territory Archives Centre.
Meeting date | Title | Meeting number | Decision number | Volume |
---|---|---|---|---|
Yulara | ||||
Yulara Tourist Village | 11/4/1978 | 41 | 7 | |
National Parks | ||||
Proposed Keep River National Park | 17/5/1978 | 45 | 9 | |
Proposal to establish a McDonnell Ranges National Park as a planning initiative | 5/7/1978 | 48 | 10 | |
Proposal to establish a McDonnell Ranges National Park as a planning initiative | 15/8/1978 | 52 | 12 | |
Casinos | ||||
Casinos in the Northern Territory | 5/7/1978 | 48 | 10 | |
Casinos in the Northern Territory | 15/8/1978 | 52 | 12 | |
Casino Development Act 1978 | 6/9/1978 | 54 | 13 | |
Report by panel on casinos in the Northern Territory | 9/10/1978 | 57 | 14 | |
Arts and museums | ||||
Museum and Art Gallery, Darwin City | 22/3/1978 | 40 | 7 | |
Development of Araluen Cultural Complex | 6/9/1978 | 54 | 13 | |
Brinkin development and related matters including the Performing Arts Centre | 3/8/1978 | 50 | 11 | |
Mining | ||||
Environmental requirements for Ranger Project | 3/8/1978 | 50 | 11 | |
Alligator Rivers regional town | 15/8/1978 | 52 | 12 | |
Rehabilitation at Rum Jungle | 6/9/1978 | 54 | 13 | |
Alligator Rivers regional town | 9/10/1978 | 56 | 14 | |
Alligator River Uranium Developments | 8/11/1978 | 60 | 15 | |
Mount Isa Mines Ltd – McArthur River Project | 22/11/1978 | 62 | 16 | |
Fisheries development | ||||
Northern Territory fisheries development | 22/11/1978 | 62 | 16 | |
Asian relations | ||||
Proposed visit to South East Asia | 6/9/1978 | 54 | 13 | |
Aboriginal health | ||||
Involvement of the Northern Territory Government in new initiatives in Aboriginal health programmes in the Northern Territory | 3/5/1978 | 43 | 8 |