The Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority Act 1972 (Act no.1972/024) commenced on 1 July 1972. Its long title was ‘An Act to make provision for the establishment of an Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority, a Commissioner for Aboriginal Planning and an Aboriginal Affairs Advisory Council for the purpose of providing consultative and other services and for the economic, social and cultural advancement of persons of Aboriginal descent in Western Australia, to repeal the Native Welfare Act, 1963, and for incidental and other purposes.’
The Act abolished the Department of Native Welfare and created the Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority. This department was not responsible for Aboriginal matters was no longer directly involved in in out of home care for Aboriginal children in Western Australia.