Submissions are entered in number order, with their related decision, for consideration by Cabinet or Cabinet committees. In some cases, notes on submissions and/or covering minutes for submissions were withdrawn or dealt with outside Cabinet.
Decisions are arranged in a single number sequence, one page per decision (or more if necessary). Each decision bears the number, title, submission number where applicable and text of the decision.
Cabinet 'C' files are arranged by subject and contain Cabinet papers of this period. They also generally include original copies of submissions and supporting papers, circulation details for these, minutes of decisions, memoranda to interested ministers and departments advising them of decisions, as well as any related papers such as briefs on submissions prepared by officers of the Prime Minister's Department.
Officials of the Prime Minister’s Department were usually present for meetings of Cabinet and Cabinet Committees. In 1967 the two officials would have been the Secretary to Cabinet (also Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Department) and the Deputy Secretary.
Their role included the recording of proceedings so that minutes accurately reflecting the decisions made or conclusions reached could be prepared. These records of proceedings are referred to as Cabinet notebooks. Under section 22A of the Archives Act 1983, Cabinet notebooks are not available to the public until 50 years have lapsed since their creation. Most Commonwealth records are available 30 years after their creation.
Linking paragrapgh to events and issues that made the news in 1967.
The second Holt ministry, of 26 ministers, extended from 10 January to 14 December 1967. The Cabinet consisted of 12 ministers.
| Minister | Portfolio |
|---|---|
The Right Honorable Harold Holt | Prime Minister |
The Right Honorable John McEwen | Minister for Trade & Industry |
The Honorable William McMahon | Treasurer |
The Right Honorable Paul Hasluck | Minister for External Affairs |
The Honorable Charles Adermann | Minister for Primary Industry |
The Honorable Allen Fairhall | Minister for Defence |
Senator the Honorable Norman Henty | Minister for Supply |
The Honorable Alan Hulme | Postmaster-General and Vice-President of the Executive Council |
The Honorable David Fairbairn, DFC | Minister for National Development |
The Honorable John Douglas Anthony | Minister for the Interior* |
Senator the Honorable John Gorton | Minister for Education and Science |
The Honorable Leslie Bury | Minister for Labour and National Service |
*The Minister for the Interior replaced the Minister for Territories in the 1967 Cabinet.
During Parliamentary sittings, Cabinet meetings were usually held weekly and lasted for around two and a half hours.
In 1967 the standing committees of Cabinet included:
Ad hoc committees of Cabinet were established to investigate particular subjects and to make recommendations to Cabinet.
The letter symbol for the Committee is added to the decision number to identify its decisions. Cabinet committee abbreviations are:
| Committee | Abbreviation |
|---|---|
| Ad Hoc | Ad Hoc Committee |
| EC | Economic Committee |
| EX | Ex Servicemens' Committee |
| FAD | Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee |
| GA | General Administrative Committee |
| HOC | Ad Hoc Committee |
| Leg | Legislation Committee |
| M | Ministry |
| PA | Privileges and Amenities Committee |
| PP | Government Purchasing Policy Committee |
| TAX | Taxation Committee |
| W | Works Committee |
Some of the key political figures in Australia in 1967 are listed below. The roles and titles ascribed to them are those they held in 1967.
Rt Hon Doug Anthony | MHR for Richmond, NSW; Minister for the Interior |
Hon Sir Frederick Chaney | MHR for Perth, WA; Minister for the Navy |
Rt Hon Malcolm Fraser | MHR for Wannon, Vic |
Hon Sir Gordon Freeth | MHR for Forrest, WA; Minister for Shipping and Transport |
Rt Hon Sir John Gorton | Senator for Victoria; Minister for Works; Minister for Education and Science |
Hon Peter Howson | MHR for Fawkner, Vic; Minister for the Air; Minister Assisting the Treasurer |
Rt Hon Ian Sinclair | MHR for New England, NSW; Minister for Social Services; Minister Assisting Minister for Trade and Industry |
Hon Don Chipp | MHR for Hotham, Vic |
Hon Tom Hughes | MHR for Parkes, NSW |
Hon Sir James Killen | MHR for Moreton, Qld |
Hon Peter Nixon | MHR for Gippsland, Vic |
Hon Bill Wentworth | MHR for Mackellar, NSW |
Hon Kim Beazley (Snr) | MHR for Fremantle, WA; Member of Opposition Executive |
Hon Jim Cairns | MHR for Lalor, Vic; Member of Opposition Executive |
Hon Clyde Cameron | MHR for Hindmarsh, SA; Member of Opposition Executive |
Hon Bill Hayden | MHR for Oxley, Qld |
Hon Doug McClelland | Senator for NSW |
Hon Tom Uren | MHR for Reid, NSW; Member of Opposition Executive |
Hon Gough Whitlam | MHR for Werriwa, NSW; Deputy Leader of the Opposition |
Peter Bailey | First Assistant Secretary; Cabinet and External Relations Division, Prime Minister’s Department |
Sir Peter Lawler OBE | Deputy Secretary; Prime Minister’s Department |
