Damon Mcknight
Australia has a complex system of government departments and agencies, with 1,334 government entities reportable to the Australian Government Organisations Register as of December 2023. These entities are grouped into ministerial departments, principal entities, secondary entities, and other entities, each led by government ministers who are members of the federal parliament. The Directory provides an A-to-Z list of these departments and agencies, which include the Attorney-General's Department, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Department of Employment, and the Department of Finance, to name a few.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of departments | 16 |
| Number of government entities | 1,334 |
| Number of "principal" entities | 191 |
| Examples of "principal" entities | Non-corporate Commonwealth entities, corporate Commonwealth entities, Commonwealth companies |
| Number of "secondary" entities | 693 |
| Examples of "secondary" entities | Advisory bodies, ministerial forums, statutory offices |
| Number of "other" entities | 450 |
| Examples of "other" entities | Subsidiaries of government companies, joint ventures, national law bodies, bodies linked through statutory contracts, agreements or delegations |
| Examples of departments/agencies | Department of Premier and Cabinet, Electoral Commission of South Australia, Environment Protection Authority, Equal Opportunity Commission, Legal Services Commission of South Australia, South Australia Police |
Explore related products
![The Ontario Law List and Solicitors' Agency Book [microform]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61InZdgcu4L._AC_UY218_.jpg)
What You'll Learn
Departments and agencies
As of December 2023, there are 1334 government entities reportable to the Australian Government Organisations Register. These are divided into "principal", "secondary", and "other" entities. The 20 cabinet departments are included in the 191 principal entities, which also include non-corporate Commonwealth entities, corporate Commonwealth entities, and Commonwealth companies. Advisory bodies, ministerial forums, and statutory offices are among the 693 secondary entities, while the 450 other entities include subsidiaries of government companies, national law bodies, and bodies linked through statutory contracts.
The Albanese Government's modifications, which came into effect on 1 July 2022, increased the number of departments to 16. The Department of Agriculture, Water, and the Environment was divided into the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry, and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water. The Department of Climate Change took over the energy functions from the Department of Industry, Science, Energy, and Resources, which was renamed the Department of Industry, Science, and Resources. The Department of Education, Skills, and Employment was split into the Department of Education and the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. The Department of Health was renamed the Department of Health and Aged Care, and the policing, criminal justice, and protective services functions were transferred from the Department of Home Affairs to the Attorney-General's Department.
The Attorney-General's Department also assumed the arts functions previously managed by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts, and Sport. Other departments include the Department of Communications, which replaced the Department of Broadband, Communications, and the Digital Economy, and the Department of Finance, which replaced the Department of Finance and Deregulation. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade took over tourism functions from the Department of Resources, Energy, and Tourism.
At the state level, South Australia has departments and agencies including the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, the Electoral Commission of South Australia, the Environment Protection Authority, and the Equal Opportunity Commission.
Gluten-Containing Foods: An Australian Perspective
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Legislative and executive powers
In Australia, the power to make and manage laws is shared between the Parliament, the Executive, and the Judiciary. This separation of powers is outlined in the first three chapters of the Australian Constitution, which define the roles of these three groups in governing the country.
The Executive power is held by the King and is delegated to the Governor-General, who acts on behalf of the King in Australia. The Governor-General's power is derived from both the Constitution and customs, conventions, and traditions. While the Governor-General is part of the Executive, the day-to-day responsibility for governing Australia lies with the Prime Minister and their ministers. The Prime Minister and ministers advise the Governor-General, who normally follows this advice, and they regularly inform the Governor-General about their work.
The principle of 'responsible government' guides the way laws are made and managed, alongside the separation of powers. This means that the ruling party or coalition of parties must maintain the support of the majority of the House of Representatives to remain in government.
The Australian Government entities include ministerial departments, principal entities, secondary entities, and other entities. These are grouped into areas of portfolio responsibility, each led by one or more government ministers appointed by the Governor-General on the advice of the Prime Minister. As of December 2023, there were 1,334 government entities reportable to the Australian Government Organisations Register, including 191 'principal' entities, 693 'secondary' entities, and 450 'other' entities. Examples of these entities include the Attorney-General's Department, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Department of Industry, Science, and Resources, and Services Australia (formerly the Department of Human Services).
Ghost Nets Haunt Australia's Vast Coastline
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Federal Executive Council
The Executive Council has de facto executive power as the Governor-General is bound by convention to follow the council's advice on almost all occasions. This power is used to legally enact decisions already made by the Federal Cabinet, with the council acting as a formal ratification body for the cabinet's decisions. Most of the powers vested in the Governor-General, such as appointments and the authorisation of budgets, can only be exercised under the advice of the Federal Executive Council.
Meetings of the Executive Council do not require the Governor-General's attendance, but they must be notified of the meeting for it to be valid. A quorum for meetings is the Governor-General and two serving ministers or assistant ministers. If the Governor-General is not in attendance, the quorum is the vice-president and two serving ministers or assistant ministers. In the absence of the vice-president, the quorum is three ministers, one of whom, a senior minister, will preside.
An example of a Federal Executive Council meeting that the Governor-General presided over was the meeting on 11 September 2022, when the council advised the Governor-General, David Hurley, to proclaim Charles III as the new head of state of Australia.
Exploring Australia: How Often to Fly Down Under
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Portfolio departments
The Albanese Government's modifications, which came into effect on 1 July 2022, increased the number of departments to 16. These include the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, which took over the energy functions from the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources.
The Department of Education, Skills and Employment was split into the Department of Education and the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. The Department of Health was renamed the Department of Health and Aged Care, and the policing, criminal justice, and protective services functions were transferred from the Department of Home Affairs to the Attorney-General's Department.
The Attorney-General's Department also assumed the arts functions previously managed by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport. The Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources was renamed the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, with its energy functions being transferred to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water.
Wolf Spiders: Their Australian Habitat Explored
You may want to see also
Government bodies
As of December 2023, there are 1334 government entities reportable to the Australian Government Organisations Register. These are grouped into ministerial departments, principal entities, secondary entities, and other entities. Principal entities include non-corporate Commonwealth entities, corporate Commonwealth entities, and Commonwealth companies. There are 191 of these principal entities. Examples include the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Department of Health and Aged Care, and the Attorney-General's Department.
Secondary entities, of which there are 693, include advisory bodies, ministerial forums, and statutory offices. The Attorney-General's Department is also an example of a secondary entity, assuming the arts functions previously managed by the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport.
The Albanese Government increased the number of departments to 16, effective from 1 July 2022. This included splitting the Department of Education, Skills and Employment into the Department of Education and the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.
Other notable government bodies in Australia include the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, the Electoral Commission of South Australia, the Environment Protection Authority, and the Equal Opportunity Commission.
Ostrich Meat in Australia: Is It Popular?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The Australian Government entities include ministerial departments, principal entities, secondary entities, and other entities. These are grouped into different areas of portfolio responsibility, with each portfolio being led by government ministers who are appointed by the governor-general based on the prime minister's advice.
As of December 2023, there are 1,334 government entities reportable to the Australian Government Organisations Register, including 191 "principal" entities, 693 "secondary" entities, and 450 "other" entities.
Some examples of Australian Government departments include the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, the Department of Health and Aged Care, the Department of Home Affairs, and the Department of Industry, Science, and Resources.
You can refer to the Directory's A-to-Z list, which allows you to search for a department or agency by its name or a key letter.
