This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.
Jurisdiction
Commonwealth
Act Number
2 of 1930
Collection
act
Plain English Summary
4/10 complexity
Seat of Government (Administration) Act 1930
What is this law about?
This Act is a housekeeping and transition law that winds up the Federal Capital Commission — the body that had been running Canberra — and hands all of its responsibilities, assets, and debts directly back to the Commonwealth Government (i.e. the Federal Government). It also makes some practical updates to how Canberra is governed day-to-day.
Who does it affect?
The Federal Capital Commission (abolished by this Act)
The Commonwealth Government, which takes over all of the Commission's responsibilities
Anyone who had contracts, leases, or agreements with the Commission — their arrangements continue, just with the Commonwealth stepping into the Commission's shoes
Residents and businesses in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), including Jervis Bay Territory, who are subject to ongoing by-laws and regulations
What does it actually do?
Abolishes the Federal Capital Commission by repealing the earlier Act that created it (the Seat of Government (Administration) Act 1924–1929)
Transfers everything the Commission owned — land, money, and other assets — to the Commonwealth
Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
Transfers all the Commission's debts and loan obligations to the Commonwealth, including amounts borrowed under earlier legislation
Keeps existing contracts and leases alive, but swaps the Commission out as a party and puts the Commonwealth in its place
Gives the Minister new powers, including:
The ability to modify the layout plan for Canberra, but only after 30 days' public notice in the Gazette (the official government bulletin), and subject to Parliament being able to disallow (reject) the change within 15 sitting days
The ability to supply water or electricity from the Territory to people outside it
The ability to delegate (pass on) ministerial powers to another person under ACT ordinances (laws specific to the Territory)
Validates past regulations made under Territory ordinances, treating them as if they were always legally sound — except for one specific set of Roads and Footpaths Regulations from 1927
Converts the Commission's by-laws (local rules) into regulations under the principal Act, with minor wording updates (replacing "Commission" with "Commonwealth" or "Minister" as appropriate)
Requires annual financial reporting to Parliament on money received and spent in administering the Territory
Updates references in other laws so that mentions of the "Federal Capital Commission" are now read as references to the Commonwealth
Why does it matter?
This law marks a significant shift in how Canberra was governed. It centralised control of the national capital directly under Commonwealth ministerial authority, ending the experiment of having a dedicated independent commission run the city. It also tidied up the legal loose ends — debts, contracts, property, and by-laws — to ensure nothing fell through the cracks when the Commission was dissolved.