Under the
Constitution of Australia the federal government was not given any specific responsibilities for transport, except for "railway construction and extension in any State with the consent of that State" (section 51(xxxiv)). In
1916,
Billy Hughes appointed
Patrick Lynch as Minister for Works and Railways to administer
Commonwealth Railways and the construction of the
Trans-Australian Railway. In
December 1928,
Stanley Bruce appointed
Thomas Paterson as Minister for Markets and Transport, which included responsibility for funding road construction via grants to the states. In January 1932, this portfolio was renamed Minister for Transport, but in April 1932 it was absorbed into the new portfolio of Minister for the Interior along with the position of Minister for Works and Railways. In
December 1938, with the growth of significance of civil aviation and the commonwealth's assumption of responsibility for regulating it under international treaties,
Joseph Lyons appointed
Harold Thorby as the first Minister for Civil Aviation. In 1941
Robert Menzies re-established the transport portfolio with the appointment of
Hubert Lawrence Anthony. The
Curtin government was determined to establish a government shipping company, ultimately the
Australian National Lines, and
John Curtin appointed
Jack Beasley as Minister for Supply and Development in
1941. This position was renamed Minister for Shipping, Fuel and Transport in 1950 under the
Menzies government and Minister for Shipping and Transport in 1951.
Gough Whitlam combined the transport and civil aviation portfolios in 1973, but it was re-divided with
Malcolm Fraser's appointment of
Wal Fife as Minister for Aviation in 1982.
Bob Hawke abolished the aviation portfolio in
1987 with the creation of the "super" departments. Since 1987, there has been a single senior transport minister in
Cabinet. ==Agency and bodies==