Department of Aboriginal Affairs, 1970-88

Component identifier:

Series 10

Content Summary:

The Department of Aboriginal Affairs (DAA) was created on 19 December 1972 by the Whitlam Government and succeeded the former Office of Aboriginal Affairs. The DAA was responsible for the development and administration of national policies for the advancement and welfare of Aboriginal people (including the administration of welfare activities in the Territories) and for the administration of special legislation for Aboriginal people. The Department was abolished on 5 March 1990 with the establishment of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission.

Perkins joined the DAA in 1973 when the staff of the Office of Aboriginal Affairs were absorbed into the new Department and was made head of the Liaison and Consultation Branch. In January 1974 Perkins criticised the Minister, Senator Cavanagh, in the media. Tensions between Perkins and Cavanagh heightened, resulting in Perkins being suspended temporarily in February 1974. In March 1975 Perkins took a year's leave without pay from the Department, during which time he worked on his autobiography and ran unsuccessfully for the Senate.

On 23 February 1976 Perkins returned to the Department, working as Assistant Secretary in the Coordination and Strategy Branch and in 1977 in the Research and Overview Branch. On 1 January 1978 he became First Assistant Secretary of the Policy Division, and in 1979-81 was Deputy Secretary of the Department. After the establishment of the Aboriginal Development Commission in July 1980, Perkins worked as a part-time Chairman of the Commission and at the deputy secretary level as special adviser to the DAA until he was appointed a full-time Commissioner in July 1981.

After his three year term with the ADC, Perkins returned to the DAA as Secretary, a position he held from 29 March 1984 until 1988. On 5 November 1988 he was stood down as Secretary of the Department as a result of allegations of mismanagement in both the Aboriginal Development Commission and the DAA.

The series contains personal files maintained by Perkins during his career with the Department. Many of the files contain official papers including carbon copies of correspondence by Perkins. The series has been arranged by the administrative branches worked in by Perkins. Material that extends across several branches or does not clearly fit into a position held by Perkins has been listed separately.

See series 11 for papers relating to inquiries into the administration of Aboriginal Affairs and series 2 for semi-official correspondence maintained while Secretary of the DAA.

Immediate source of acquisition:

The papers were donated to the Library by Charles Perkins in five instalments between 1989 and 1995.

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