Royal commissions (sometimes called commissions of inquiry) 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 (ALRC) 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 (presented for consideration) in Parliament in February 2010, but has not been implemented.
Held in 1900–1920
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" (1902) Royal Commission on sites for the seat of government of the Commonwealth (1903) Royal Commission on the Bonuses for Manufactures Bill (1903–1904) Royal Commission on the butter industry (1904–1905) Royal Commission on the Navigation Bill (1904–1906) Royal Commission on the affray at Goaribari Island, British New Guinea, on 6 March 1904 (1904) Royal Commission on customs and excise tariffs (1904–1907) Royal Commission on old-age pensions (1905–1906) Royal Commission on the tobacco monopoly (1905–1906) Royal Commission on ocean shipping service (1906) 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 (1906–1907) Royal Commission on secret drugs, cures, and foods (1906–1907) Royal Commission on postal services (1908–1910) Royal Commission on insurance (1908–1910) Royal Commission on stripper harvesters and drills (1908–1909) Royal Commission on Tasmanian customs leakage (1910–1911) Royal Commission on the sugar industry (1911–1912) Royal Commission on the pearl-shelling industry (1912–1916) Royal Commission on the fruit industry (1912–1914) Royal Commission appointed to inquire into certain charges against Mr. Henry Chinn (1913) Royal Commission on Northern Territory railways and ports (1913–1914) Royal Commission on powellised timber (1913–1914) Royal Commission upon the Commonwealth electoral law and administration (1914–1915) Royal Commission on meat export trade (1914) Royal Commission on food supplies and trade and industry during the war (1914) Royal Commission on mail services and trade development between Australia and the New Hebrides (1915) Royal Commission on Liverpool Military Camp, New South Wales (1915) Royal Commission on the charges made by D. L. Gilchrist concerning the construction of the western section of the Kalgoorlie to Port Augusta Railway (1916) Royal Commission to inquire into and report upon certain charges against the Administrator and other officers of the Northern Territory Administration (1916) Royal Commission on Federal Capital Administration (1916–1917) Royal Commission on Java and the East Indies, Singapore and the Straits Settlements (1917–1918) Royal Commission on Navy and Defence Administration (1917–1919) 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 (1918) Royal Commission on Public Service administration, Commonwealth of Australia (1918–1920) Royal Commission upon the public expenditure of the Commonwealth of Australia with a view to effecting economies (1918–1921) Royal Commission on taxation of leasehold estates in Crown lands (1918–1919) Royal Commission on the sugar industry (1919–1920) Royal Commission on industrial troubles on Melbourne wharfs (1919–1920) Royal Commission on late German New Guinea (1919–1920) Royal Commission to inquire into complaints by the munition worker passengers to Australia by the transport "Bahia Castillo" (1919) Royal Commission on Northern Territory Administration (1919–1920) Royal Commission on the basic wage (1919–1920) Royal Commission on taxation (1920–1923) Royal Commission on the increase of the selling price of coal (1920)