Appendix 9—Number of ministers—statutory variations

Year Number1 Authority

1901

7

Constitution, s. 65

1915

8

Ministers of State Act 1915

1917

9

Ministers of State Act 1917

1935

10

Ministers of State Act 1935

1938

11

Ministers of State Act 1938

1941

19

Ministers of State Act 19412

1951

20

Ministers of State Act 19513

1956

22

Ministers of State Act 1956

1964

25

Ministers of State Act 1964

1967

26

Ministers of State Act 1967

1971

27

Ministers of State Act 1971

1987

30

Ministers of State Amendment Act (No. 2) 1987

2000

424

Ministers of State and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2000

  1. This figure refers to Ministers of State in terms of ss. 64–66 of the Constitution—that is, appointed to administer a department of State. In earlier years Executive Councillors were sometimes appointed as ‘Ministers’ who did not administer a department—e.g. ‘Minister without Portfolio’ or ‘Minister in charge of’ certain responsibilities. The Vice President of the Executive Council did not administer a department until the early 1930s.
  2. The number of Ministers had been previously increased to 12 by a regulation under the National Security Act (H.R. Deb. (24.6.41) 322-3). The Ministers of State Act 1941 increased the number of Ministers to 19 as a special provision during the war; this provision was repealed and the Act amended retaining the number at 19 by the Ministers of State Act 1946.
  3. The consolidated Ministers of State Act 1952 retained the number at 20.
  4. Ministers designated as Parliamentary Secretaries not to exceed 12 and those not so designated not to exceed 30.

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