Legislation, In force, Commonwealth
Commonwealth: Ministers of State Act 1952 (Cth)
An Act to provide for matters relating to Ministers of State and Executive Councillors, and for related purposes 1 Short title This Act may be cited as the Ministers of State Act 1952.
          Ministers of State Act 1952
No. 1, 1952
Compilation No. 12
Compilation date: 29 November 2023
Includes amendments up to: Act No. 104, 2023
Registered: 4 December 2023
About this compilation
This compilation
This is a compilation of the Ministers of State Act 1952 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 29 November 2023 (the compilation date).
The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.
Uncommenced amendments
The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the Register for the compiled law.
Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments
If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.
Editorial changes
For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.
Modifications
If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the Register for the compiled law.
Self‑repealing provisions
If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.
Contents
1 Short title
2 Commencement
4 Number of Ministers
5 Notification of certain matters relating to Executive Councillors
6 Notification of appointment of officer to administer a department of State of the Commonwealth etc.
6A Notification of direction that Minister of State holds an office etc.
7 Regulations
Endnotes
Endnote 1—About the endnotes
Endnote 2—Abbreviation key
Endnote 3—Legislation history
Endnote 4—Amendment history
An Act to provide for matters relating to Ministers of State and Executive Councillors, and for related purposes
1  Short title
  This Act may be cited as the Ministers of State Act 1952.
2  Commencement
  This Act shall be deemed to have come into operation on 1st January, 1952.
4  Number of Ministers
  The number of the Ministers of State must not exceed:
 (a) in the case of those designated, when appointed by the Governor‑General, as Parliamentary Secretary—12; and
 (b) in the case of those not so designated—30.
Note: For the annual limit on the sum payable for the salaries of Ministers of State, see section 55 of the Parliamentary Business Resources Act 2017.
5  Notification of certain matters relating to Executive Councillors
Choosing, summoning and swearing of an Executive Councillor
 (1) If the Governor‑General has chosen, summoned and sworn an Executive Councillor as a member of the Federal Executive Council under section 62 of the Constitution, the Official Secretary to the Governor‑General must by notifiable instrument:
 (a) notify that the Executive Councillor has been so chosen, summoned and sworn; and
 (b) specify:
 (i) the name of the Executive Councillor; and
 (ii) the day (the swearing day) on which the Executive Councillor was so chosen, summoned and sworn.
 (2) The notifiable instrument under subsection (1):
 (a) must be made as soon as practicable after the swearing day; and
 (b) may comprise a copy of the instrument (the section 62 instrument) made by the Governor‑General notifying that the Governor‑General has chosen, summoned and sworn the Executive Councillor as a member of the Federal Executive Council under section 62 of the Constitution.
 (3) The validity of a section 62 instrument is not affected by any failure to comply with subsections (1) and (2).
Revocation of Executive Councillor's membership of the Federal Executive Council
 (4) If the Governor‑General revokes an Executive Councillor's membership of the Federal Executive Council, the Official Secretary to the Governor‑General must by notifiable instrument:
 (a) notify that the Executive Councillor's membership of the Federal Executive Council has been revoked by the Governor‑General; and
 (b) specify:
 (i) the name of the former Executive Councillor; and
 (ii) the day (the revocation day) on which the revocation occurred.
 (5) The notifiable instrument under subsection (4):
 (a) must be made as soon as practicable after the revocation day; and
 (b) may comprise a copy of the instrument (the section 62 revocation instrument) made by the Governor‑General revoking the Executive Councillor's membership of the Federal Executive Council.
 (6) The validity of a section 62 revocation instrument is not affected by any failure to comply with subsections (4) and (5).
6  Notification of appointment of officer to administer a department of State of the Commonwealth etc.
Appointment of an officer to administer a department of State of the Commonwealth
 (1) If the Governor‑General appoints an officer to administer a department of State of the Commonwealth under section 64 of the Constitution, the Official Secretary to the Governor‑General must by notifiable instrument:
 (a) notify that the officer has been so appointed by the Governor‑General; and
 (b) specify:
 (i) the name of the officer; and
 (ii) the name of the department of State of the Commonwealth; and
 (iii) the day (the appointment day) on which the officer was so appointed.
 (2) The notifiable instrument under subsection (1):
 (a) must be made as soon as practicable after the appointment day; and
 (b) may comprise a copy of the instrument (the section 64 instrument) made by the Governor‑General appointing the officer to administer the department of State of the Commonwealth under section 64 of the Constitution.
 (3) The validity of a section 64 instrument is not affected by any failure to comply with subsections (1) and (2).
Revocation of appointment of an officer to administer a department of State of the Commonwealth
 (4) If the Governor‑General revokes an appointment made under section 64 of the Constitution that an officer administer a department of State of the Commonwealth, the Official Secretary to the Governor‑General must by notifiable instrument:
 (a) notify that the appointment of the officer has been revoked by the Governor‑General; and
 (b) specify:
 (i) the name of the officer; and
 (ii) the name of the department of State of the Commonwealth; and
 (iii) the day (the revocation day) on which the revocation occurred.
 (5) The notifiable instrument under subsection (4):
 (a) must be made as soon as practicable after the revocation day; and
 (b) may comprise a copy of the instrument (the section 64 revocation instrument) revoking the appointment of the officer to administer the department of State of the Commonwealth under section 64 of the Constitution.
 (6) The validity of a section 64 revocation instrument is not affected by any failure to comply with subsections (4) and (5).
6A  Notification of direction that Minister of State holds an office etc.
Direction that a Minister of State holds an office
 (1) If the Governor‑General directs that a Minister of State holds an office under section 65 of the Constitution, the Official Secretary to the Governor‑General must by notifiable instrument:
 (a) notify that the Governor‑General has directed that the Minister of State holds the office; and
 (b) specify:
 (i) the name of the Minister of State; and
 (ii) the name of the office; and
 (iii) the day (the direction day) on which the Governor‑General so directed.
 (2) The notifiable instrument under subsection (1):
 (a) must be made as soon as practicable after the direction day; and
 (b) may comprise a copy of the instrument (the section 65 instrument) made by the Governor‑General directing that a Minister of State holds an office under section 65 of the Constitution.
 (3) The validity of a section 65 instrument is not affected by any failure to comply with subsections (1) and (2).
Revocation of direction that a Minister of State holds an office
 (4) If the Governor‑General revokes a direction made under section 65 of the Constitution that a Minister of State holds an office, the Official Secretary to the Governor‑General must by notifiable instrument:
 (a) notify that the direction that the Minister of State holds the office has been revoked by the Governor‑General; and
 (b) specify:
 (i) the name of the Minister of State; and
 (ii) the name of the former office; and
 (iii) the day (the revocation day) on which the revocation occurred.
 (5) The notifiable instrument under subsection (4):
 (a) must be made as soon as practicable after the revocation day; and
 (b) may comprise a copy of the instrument (the section 65 revocation instrument) made by the Governor‑General revoking the direction that the Minister of State holds an office under section 65 of the Constitution.
 (6) The validity of a section 65 revocation instrument is not affected by any failure to comply with subsections (4) and (5).
7  Regulations
  The Governor‑General may make regulations prescribing matters:
 (a) required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed; or
 (b) necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.
Endnotes
Endnote 1—About the endnotes
The endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.
The following endnotes are included in every compilation:
Endnote 1—About the endnotes
Endnote 2—Abbreviation key
Endnote 3—Legislation history
Endnote 4—Amendment history
Abbreviation key—Endnote 2
The abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.
Legislation history and amendment history—Endnotes 3 and 4
Amending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.
The legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.
The amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.
Editorial changes
The Legislation Act 2003 authorises First Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial and presentational changes to a compiled law in preparing a compilation of the law for registration. The changes must not change the effect of the law. Editorial changes take effect from the compilation registration date.
If the compilation includes editorial changes, the endnotes include a brief outline of the changes in general terms. Full details of any changes can be obtained from the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.
Misdescribed amendments
A misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe how an amendment is to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, then the misdescribed amendment can be incorporated through an editorial change made under section 15V of the Legislation Act 2003.
If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the amendment is not incorporated and "(md not incorp)" is added to the amendment history.
Endnote 2—Abbreviation key
ad = added or inserted                          o = order(s)
am = amended                                    Ord = Ordinance
amdt = amendment                                orig = original
c = clause(s)                                   par = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s)
C[x] = Compilation No. x                        /sub‑subparagraph(s)
Ch = Chapter(s)                                 pres = present
def = definition(s)                             prev = previous
Dict = Dictionary                               (prev…) = previously
disallowed = disallowed by Parliament           Pt = Part(s)
Div = Division(s)                               r = regulation(s)/rule(s)
ed = editorial change                           reloc = relocated
exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have  renum = renumbered
effect                                          rep = repealed
F = Federal Register of Legislation             rs = repealed and substituted
gaz = gazette                                   s = section(s)/subsection(s)
LA = Legislation Act 2003                       Sch = Schedule(s)
LIA = Legislative Instruments Act 2003          Sdiv = Subdivision(s)
(md) = misdescribed amendment can be given      SLI = Select Legislative Instrument
effect                                          SR = Statutory Rules
(md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment        Sub‑Ch = Sub‑Chapter(s)
cannot be given effect                          SubPt = Subpart(s)
mod = modified/modification                     underlining = whole or part not
No. = Number(s)                                 commenced or to be commenced
Endnote 3—Legislation history
Act                                                                                    Number and year  Assent        Commencement                                                                   Application, saving and transitional provisions
Ministers of State Act 1952                                                            1, 1952          13 Mar 1952   1 Jan 1952
Ministers of State Act 1956                                                            1, 1956          24 Feb 1956   24 Feb 1956                                                                    —
Ministers of State Act 1959                                                            18, 1959         23 Apr 1959   1 Mar 1959                                                                     —
Ministers of State Act 1964                                                            1, 1964          4 Mar 1964    4 Mar 1964                                                                     —
Ministers of State Act (No. 2) 1964                                                    71, 1964         30 Oct 1964   1 Nov 1964                                                                     —
Statute Law Revision (Decimal Currency) Act 1966                                       93, 1966         29 Oct 1966   1 Dec 1966                                                                     —
Ministers of State Act 1967                                                            1, 1967          27 Feb 1967   27 Feb 1967                                                                    —
Ministers of State Act 1968                                                            102, 1968        29 Nov 1968   1 Dec 1968                                                                     —
Ministers of State Act 1971                                                            43, 1971         18 May 1971   18 May 1971                                                                    —
Remuneration and Allowances Act 1973                                                   14, 1973         1 Apr 1973    1 Apr 1973                                                                     —
Statute Law Revision Act 1973                                                          216, 1973        19 Dec 1973   31 Dec 1973                                                                    s 9(1) and 10
Ministers of State Amendment Act 1978                                                  82, 1978         22 June 1978  22 June 1978                                                                   —
Ministers of State Amendment Act 1979                                                  141, 1979        23 Nov 1979   23 Nov 1979                                                                    —
Ministers of State Amendment Act 1980                                                  165, 1980        10 Dec 1980   10 Dec 1980                                                                    —
Remuneration and Allowances Amendment Act 1981                                         121, 1981        9 Sept 1981   1 July 1981                                                                    —
Remuneration and Allowances Amendment Act 1982                                         78, 1982         19 Sept 1982  19 Sept 1982                                                                   —
Remuneration and Allowances Amendment Act 1983                                         128, 1983        22 Dec 1983   s 8: 22 Dec 1983 (s 2(1))                                                      —
Remuneration and Allowances Amendment Act 1984                                         73, 1984         25 June 1984  25 June 1984                                                                   —
Ministers of State Amendment Act 1985                                                  56, 1985         4 June 1985   4 June 1985                                                                    —
Ministers of State Amendment Act 1986                                                  26, 1986         13 May 1986   13 May 1986                                                                    —
Ministers of State Amendment Act 1987                                                  71, 1987         5 June 1987   5 June 1987                                                                    —
Ministers of State Amendment Act (No. 2) 1987                                          91, 1987         18 Sept 1987  18 Sept 1987                                                                   —
Ministers of State Amendment Act 1988                                                  19, 1988         11 May 1988   11 May 1988                                                                    —
Ministers of State Amendment Act 1989                                                  20, 1989         20 Apr 1989   20 Apr 1989                                                                    —
Ministers of State Amendment Act 1990                                                  109, 1990        18 Dec 1990   17 Jan 1991                                                                    —
Ministers of State Amendment Act 1992                                                  50, 1992         17 June 1992  17 June 1992                                                                   —
Ministers of State Amendment Act 1994                                                  35, 1994         15 Mar 1994   15 Mar 1994                                                                    —
Ministers of State Amendment Act 1996                                                  2, 1996          30 May 1996   30 May 1996                                                                    —
Ministers of State Amendment Act 1999                                                  115, 1999        22 Sept 1999  22 Sept 1999                                                                   —
Ministers of State and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2000                            1, 2000          29 Feb 2000   Sch 1: 10 Mar 2000 (s 2(1) and gaz 2000, No S112)                              —
Ministers of State Amendment Act 2002                                                  6, 2002          4 Apr 2002    4 Apr 2002 (s 2)                                                               Sch 1 (item 2)
Ministers of State Amendment Act 2006                                                  38, 2006         3 May 2006    3 May 2006                                                                     Sch 1 (item 2)
Ministers of State Amendment Act 2010                                                  59, 2010         25 June 2010  25 June 2010                                                                   Sch 1 (item 3)
Statute Law Revision Act (No. 1) 2016                                                  4, 2016          11 Feb 2016   Sch 1 (item 23): 10 Mar 2016 (s 2(1) item 2)                                   —
Parliamentary Business Resources (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2017  38, 2017         19 May 2017   Sch 1 (items 23–25) and Sch 3 (items 1–3, 11): 1 Jan 2018 (s 2(1) items 3, 5)  Sch 3 (items 1–3, 11)
Ministers of State Amendment Act 2023                                                  104, 2023        28 Nov 2023   29 Nov 2023 (s 2(1) item 1)                                                    Sch 1 (item 3)
Endnote 4—Amendment history
Provision affected            How affected
Title....................     am No 38, 2017; No 104, 2023
s 2.....................      am No 14, 1973
s 3.....................      am No 14, 1973
                              rep No 216, 1973
s 4.....................      am No 1, 1956; No 1, 1964; No 1, 1967; No 43, 1971; No 91, 1987
                              rs No 1, 2000
                              am No 38, 2017
s 5.....................      am No 1, 1956; No 18, 1959; Nos 1 and 71, 1964; No 93, 1966; No 1, 1967; No 102, 1968; No 43, 1971; No 14, 1973; No 82, 1978; No 141, 1979; No 165, 1980; No 121, 1981; No 78, 1982; No 128, 1983; No 73, 1984; No 56, 1985; No 26, 1986; No 71, 1987; No 19, 1988; No 20, 1989; No 109, 1990; No 50, 1992; No 35, 1994; No 2, 1996
                              rs No 115, 1999
                              am No 1, 2000; No 6, 2002; No 38, 2006
                              rs No 59, 2010
                              rep No 38, 2017
                              ad No 104, 2023
s 6.....................      am No 71, 1964; No 93, 1966; No 102, 1968; No 14, 1973
                              rs No 82, 1978
                              am No 4, 2016
                              rep No 38, 2017
                              ad No 104, 2023
s 6A....................      ad No 104, 2023
s 7.....................      rs No 18, 1959
                              am No 71, 1964; No 93, 1966; No 102, 1968
                              rs No 14, 1973
                              rep No 82, 1978
                              ad No 59, 2010
s 8.....................      ad No 14, 1973
                              rep No 82, 1978
s 9.....................      ad No 14, 1973
                              rep No 82, 1978
The Schedule heading........  rep No 14, 1973
Schedule heading...........   ad No 14, 1973
Schedule.................     rep No 216, 1973
        
      