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This thesis examines the Queensland machinery of government, defined as, "The broad organizational plan on which Ministers rely for the discharge of their executive responsibilities". (1) Queensland was originally part of the colony of New South Wales and its political system is based on the British Westminster system. This is a Cabinet system of government comprised of Ministers of State supported by ministerial departments and sub-departments which, with the Governor, constitute the Executive arm of government. The first Chapter discusses the role of the Governor, and the composition and role of the Executive Council and the Cabinet. It then sets the theoretical context of the study and outlines the classification scheme adopted in order to comment in a meaningful way on the vast number of administrative agencies that were in existence in 1915 or have been established since then. Chapter Two further sets the historical pattern by outlining the administrative developments up to the time of J.D. Story's Report on the Public Service in 1919 and traces his influence and that of the Public Service Commissioners and the Board on developments from that time onwards. Chapters Three and Four outline the changes in ministerial portfolios, departments, and sub-departments, in what is basically an historical narrative. In these chapters, the factors which have influenced the distribution of functions over the period are identified. Chapter Three covers the period of the Labor government (1915-1957) * and Chapter Four the Country-Liberal Party government (1957-1978). Chapter Five examines the co-ordination process at the ministerial and departmental level and Chapter Six examines the changes to the machinery of government over the period. It concludes that no criteria have been universal applied to the distribution of functions. It provides an outline of the many factors which influence the process and suggests possible improvements to the process. (1) Anderson, The Right Hon. Sir John, "The Machinery of Government" in Public Administration (London) Vol. XXIV No. 3 Autumn 1946 p.147.
* This period also covers the Moore Country Progressive National Party government which was in power from 1929 to 1932.
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