Territories West
The Territories West Branch fulfils the Australian Government’s role in achieving good governance and community wellbeing in the Indian Ocean Territories (IOT). The IOT consist of Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands
We assist the IOT to manage their own current and future affairs, manage the Australian Government’s interests, and, in the absence of a state or territory government, ensure that appropriate services are effectively delivered.
The Department has the following portfolio responsibilities for the IOT:
- providing advice to the Minister with responsibilities for Territories on the development, implementation and evaluation of Australian Government policies and programmes for the Territories
- promoting and maintaining good governance in Australia’s Territories
- working with other Commonwealth agencies, other levels of government and the private sector to promote economic development in the Territories
- providing advice on funding levels for the IOT
- ensuring an acceptable standard of government service delivery (Commonwealth, state and local) in the IOT
- delivering state-type services in the IOT
- increasing the capacity of local governments to deliver an acceptable standard of local government services, and
- providing an acceptable standard of public infrastructure in the IOT.
Contact us
Territories West
Territories and Native Title Division
Attorney-General's Department
Robert Garran Offices
National Circuit
BARTON ACT 2600
Assistant Secretary: Julian Yates
Telephone: (02) 6218 6906
Email: julian.yates@ag.gov.au