List of Australian royal commissions


s have been held in Australia at a federal level since 1902. Royal commissions appointed by the Governor-General operate under the Royal Commissions Act 1902 passed by the Parliament of Australia in 1902. The governments of the states and territories of Australia have also appointed royal commissions, although they are not included in this list unless they were appointed jointly by the Government of Australia and a state or territory government.
In 2010, the Australian Law Reform Commission conducted an inquiry into the operation and provisions of the Royal Commissions Act 1902, investigating possible alternative forms of executive inquiry. The ALRC Report ALRC 111 was tabled in Parliament in February 2010, but has not been implemented.

Held in 1900–1920

  1. Royal Commission appointed to inquire into and report upon the arrangements made for the transport of troops returning from service in South Africa in the S.S. "Drayton Grange"
  2. Royal Commission on sites for the seat of government of the Commonwealth
  3. Royal Commission on the Bonuses for Manufactures Bill
  4. Royal Commission on the butter industry
  5. Royal Commission on the Navigation Bill
  6. Royal Commission on the affray at Goaribari Island, British New Guinea, on 6 March 1904
  7. Royal Commission on customs and excise tariffs
  8. Royal Commission on old-age pensions
  9. Royal Commission on the tobacco monopoly
  10. Royal Commission on ocean shipping service
  11. British New Guinea—Royal Commission of inquiry into the present conditions, including the method of government, of the Territory of Papua, and the best means of their improvement
  12. Royal Commission on secret drugs, cures, and foods
  13. Royal Commission on postal services
  14. Royal Commission on insurance
  15. Royal Commission on stripper harvesters and drills
  16. Royal Commission on Tasmanian customs leakage
  17. Royal Commission on the sugar industry
  18. Royal Commission on the pearl-shelling industry
  19. Royal Commission on the fruit industry
  20. Royal Commission appointed to inquire into certain charges against Mr. Henry Chinn
  21. Royal Commission on Northern Territory railways and ports
  22. Royal Commission on powellised timber
  23. Royal Commission upon the Commonwealth electoral law and administration
  24. Royal Commission on meat export trade
  25. Royal Commission on food supplies and trade and industry during the war
  26. Royal Commission on mail services and trade development between Australia and the New Hebrides
  27. Royal Commission on Liverpool Military Camp, New South Wales
  28. Royal Commission on the charges made by D. L. Gilchrist concerning the construction of the western section of the Kalgoorlie to Port Augusta Railway
  29. Royal Commission to inquire into and report upon certain charges against the Administrator and other officers of the Northern Territory Administration
  30. Royal Commission on Federal Capital Administration
  31. Royal Commission on Java and the East Indies, Singapore and the Straits Settlements
  32. Royal Commission on Navy and Defence Administration
  33. Royal Commission on the war—Australian Imperial Force. Report as to number of members fit for active service and number of reinforcements and enlistments required
  34. Royal Commission on Public Service administration, Commonwealth of Australia
  35. Royal Commission upon the public expenditure of the Commonwealth of Australia with a view to effecting economies
  36. Royal Commission on taxation of leasehold estates in Crown lands
  37. Royal Commission on the sugar industry
  38. Royal Commission on industrial troubles on Melbourne wharfs
  39. Royal Commission on late German New Guinea
  40. Royal Commission to inquire into complaints by the munition worker passengers to Australia by the transport "Bahia Castillo"
  41. Royal Commission on Northern Territory Administration
  42. Royal Commission on the basic wage
  43. Royal Commission on taxation
  44. Royal Commission on the increase of the selling price of coal

    Held in 1921–1940

  46. Royal Commission on the matter of uniform railway gauge
  47. Royal Commission on pillaging of ships' cargoes
  48. Royal Commission on Cockatoo Island Dockyard
  49. Royal Commission upon the loyalty to the British Crown of German Nationals resident in Australia whose property is liable to a charge created by the Treaty of Peace Regulations made under the Treaty of Peace Act 1919–1920
  50. Royal Commission on the circumstances attending the supposed loss at sea of the steamship "Sumatra"
  51. Royal Commission in connection with sugar purchases by the Commonwealth through Mr. W. E. Davies in September and October, 1920
  52. Royal Commission in connection with joinery supplied to the War Service Homes Commissioner in March, 1920
  53. Royal Commission on the Navigation Act
  54. Royal Commission on national insurance
  55. Royal Commission on the method for determining the unimproved value of land held under Crown leases
  56. Royal Commission on the assessment of war service disabilities
  57. Royal Commission to inquire into extracts from the reports in Parliamentary Debates of speeches made by Mr. Scullin in the House of Representatives on 7 and 19 August 1924, in relation to land tax matters
  58. Royal Commission on the finances of Western Australia, as affected by Federation
  59. Royal Commission on health
  60. Royal Commission on Norfolk Island affairs
  61. Royal Commission on certain matters in connexion with the British Phosphate Commission
  62. Royal Commission on wireless
  63. Royal Commission on the Edie Creek leases
  64. Royal Commission on the Moving Picture Industry in Australia
  65. Royal Commission on the Constitution
  66. Royal Commission on child endowment or family allowances
  67. Royal Commission of inquiry into fatalities at Bundaberg
  68. Royal Commission appointed to inquire into statements in the press in regard to offers alleged to have been made to members to resign seats in the Federal Parliament
  69. Royal Commission on the finances of South Australia, as affected by Federation
  70. Royal Commission on the coal industry
  71. Royal Commission appointed to inquire into allegations affecting members of the Parliamentary Joint Committee of Public Accounts in connexion with claims made by broadcasting companies against the Commonwealth Government
  72. Royal Commission on Jacob Johnson
  73. Royal Commission on performing rights
  74. Royal Commission on taxation
  75. Royal Commission on mineral oils and petrol and other products of mineral oils
  76. Royal Commission on the wheat, flour and bread industries
  77. Royal Commission appointed to inquire into and report upon the circumstances associated with the retirement of Lieutenant-Commander Alan Dermot Casey from the Royal Australian Navy
  78. Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the monetary and banking systems at present in operation in Australia
  79. Royal Commission on doctors' remuneration for national insurance service and other contract practice
  80. Royal Commission regarding the contract for the erection of additions to the General Post Office, Sydney

    Held in 1941–1960

  82. Royal Commission to inquire into and report upon the contract or contracts with Abbco Bread Co. Pty. Limited for the supply of bread to the Department of the Army, and other matters
  83. Royal Commission to inquire into circumstances under which certain public monies were used and to whom, and for what purposes such moneys were paid
  84. Royal Commission in the matter of an inquiry into a statement that there was a document missing from the official files in relation to "The Brisbane Line"
  85. Royal Commission to inquire into and report upon certain transactions of the Sydney Land Sales Control Office, and the Canberra Land Sales Control Office of the Treasury
  86. Royal Commission appointed to inquire into certain transactions in relation to timber rights in the Territory of Papua-New Guinea
  87. Royal Commission on the Port Augusta to Alice Springs Railway
  88. Royal Commission on television
  89. Royal Commission on Espionage

    Held in 1961–1980

  91. Royal Commission on alleged improper practices and improper refusal to co-operate with the Victoria Police Force on the part of persons employed in the Postmaster-General's Department in Victoria in relation to illegal gambling
  92. Royal Commission on loss of HMAS Voyager
  93. Royal Commission on the statement of Lieutenant Commander Cabban and matters incidental thereto
  94. Royal Commission into Exploratory and Production Drilling for Petroleum in the Area of the Great Barrier Reef
  95. Aboriginal Land Rights Commission
  96. Australian Post Office Commission of inquiry
  97. Commission of inquiry into land tenures
  98. National Estate Committee of Inquiry
  99. Royal Commission on petroleum
  100. Commission of Inquiry into the maritime industry
  101. Independent Inquiry into Frequency Modulation Broadcasting
  102. Commission of Inquiry into transport to and from Tasmania
  103. Royal Commission on Australian Government Administration
  104. Royal Commission on human relationships
  105. Royal Commission on Intelligence and Security
  106. Royal Commission into alleged payments to maritime unions
  107. Royal Commission to inquire into and report upon certain incidents in which Aborigines were involved in the Laverton area
  108. Royal Commission on Norfolk Island
  109. Australian Royal Commission of inquiry into drugs
  110. Royal Commission of inquiry into matters in relation to electoral redistribution Queensland, 1977
  111. Commission of inquiry into the efficiency and administration of hospitals
  112. Commission of inquiry into the viability of the Christmas Island phosphate industry
  113. Royal Commission on the activities of the Federated Ship Painters and Dockers Union