Records 1978

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
Volumes 5 to 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 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
Volumes 1 to 16 are open from 1 January 2009

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
Index 1978 is open from 1 January 2009

1977 to 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 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.

MinisterPosition
Hon PAE Everingham MLAChief Minister
Attorney-General
Hon MB Perron MLATreasurer
Minister for Lands and Housing
Hon IL Tuxworth MLAMinister for Health
Minister for Mines and Energy
Hon James Murray Robertson MLAMinister for Community Development
Minister for Education
Hon RM Steele MLAMinister 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

281 PDF (1.2 MB)

7

National Parks

Proposed Keep River National Park

17/5/1978

45

313 PDF (1.2 MB)

9

Proposal to establish a McDonnell Ranges National Park as a planning initiative

5/7/1978

48

345 PDF (1.8 MB)

10

Proposal to establish a McDonnell Ranges National Park as a planning initiative

15/8/1978

52

388 PDF (1.9 MB)

12

Casinos

Casinos in the Northern Territory

5/7/1978

48

343 PDF (751.2 KB)

10

Casinos in the Northern Territory

15/8/1978

52

404 PDF (89.5 KB)

12

Casino Development Act 1978

6/9/1978

54

417 PDF (624.5 KB)

13

Report by panel on casinos in the Northern Territory

9/10/1978

57

453 PDF (7.5 MB)

14

Arts and museums

Museum and Art Gallery, Darwin City

22/3/1978

40

266 PDF (3.0 MB)

7

Development of Araluen Cultural Complex

6/9/1978

54

423 PDF (5.5 MB)

13

Brinkin development and related matters including the Performing Arts Centre

3/8/1978

50

369 PDF (1.6 MB)

11

Mining

Environmental requirements for Ranger Project

3/8/1978

50

366 PDF (1.3 MB)

11

Alligator Rivers regional town

15/8/1978

52

379 PDF (11.2 MB)

12

Rehabilitation at Rum Jungle

6/9/1978

54

411 PDF (1.4 MB)

13

Alligator Rivers regional town

9/10/1978

56

443 PDF (1.1 MB)

14

Alligator River Uranium Developments

8/11/1978

60

485 PDF (3.8 MB)

15

Mount Isa Mines Ltd – McArthur River Project

22/11/1978

62

490 PDF (2.5 MB)

16

Fisheries development

Northern Territory fisheries development

22/11/1978

62

506 PDF (1.7 MB)

16

Asian relations 

Proposed visit to South East Asia

6/9/1978

54

422 PDF (930.7 KB)

13

Aboriginal health

Involvement of the Northern Territory Government in new initiatives in Aboriginal health programmes in the Northern Territory

3/5/1978

43

301 PDF (4.2 MB)

8