Minister for the Northern Territory (GA17)

On 22 December 1909 the Hon. Richard Butler M.P. was appointed Treasurer and Minister for the Northern Territory (1).

Negotiations concerning the possibility of South Australia ceding the Territory to the Commonwealth had been underway since 1901. (2) On 13 February 1907 a formal agreement on the terms for transfer was concluded between Premier Price and Prime Minister Deakin (3). During November the agreement was ratified by both Houses of the South Australian Parliament (4). In 1910 a Northern Territory Acceptance Bill was passed by both Houses of Federal Parliament (5). William Joseph Denny, the last South Australian member of Parliament to occupy such a position became Attorney General and Minister for the Northern Territory on 3 June 1910 (6).

On 1 January 1911 transfer of the Territory to the Commonwealth was effected, the then Minister for External Affairs E.L. Batchelor becoming the responsible minister (7). The Office of Government resident was consequently abolished, the successor agency being that of Office of Administrator, Northern Territory [I].

REFERENCES:

(1) Blue book for the year 1909, Adelaide, the Government Printer, 1910, p.18.
(2) Donovan, P.F., A Land Full of Possibilities, St. Lucia, Queensland, 1981 p.203.
(3) ibid., p.215
(4) ibid., p.218
(5) ibid., p.220
(6) Blue Book for the year 1910 p.18.
(7) Donovan, P.F. op.cit., p.221.