1. The National Capital Authority
The National Capital Authority is established under the Australian Capital Territory (Planning and Land Management) Act 1988 (the Act). Part II of the Act establishes the Authority, prescribes its powers and functions and makes it subject to general Ministerial direction. In 2006–07 the Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads, the Hon Jim Lloyd MP administered the Act.
The Authority’s functions, as set out in section 6 of the Act, are:
a) to prepare and administer a National Capital Plan (see Chapter 2)
b) to keep the Plan under constant review and to propose amendments to it when necessary (see Chapter 2)
c) on behalf of the Commonwealth, to commission works to be carried out in Designated Areas in accordance with the Plan where neither a Department of State of the Commonwealth nor any Commonwealth authority has the responsibility to commission those works (see Chapter 5)
d) to recommend to the Minister the carrying out of works that it considers desirable to maintain or enhance the character of the national capital (see Chapter 5)
e) to foster an awareness of Canberra as the national capital (see Chapter 3)
f) with the approval of the Minister, to perform planning services for any person or body, whether within Australia or overseas (see Chapter 9)
g) with the Minister’s approval, on behalf of the Commonwealth, to manage National Land designated in writing by the Minister as land required for the special purposes of Canberra as the national capital (see Chapter 4).
The statutory functions of the Authority comprehensively establish the extent of the Australian Government’s interest in the national capital.