With the passing of the State Transport Co-ordination Act Amendment Act, in 1961 the WA Transport Board was abolished and the Department of Transport created. The 1961 created the post of Commissioner of Transport and also set up a Transport Advisory Board to advise the Minister for Transport. The Department of Transport [1] was abolished in 1967 following the passing of the Road and Air Transport Commission Act 1966 which abolished the Transport Commission.

The Department of Transport was abolished and the Transport Commission created following the passing of the Transport Commission Act. Also passed was the State Transport Co-ordination Act, 1966 which appointed a Director General of Transport and also established a Transport Users' Board and a Transport Advisory Council. The Transport Commission administered regulations, licensing requirements and subsidies relating to transport.

The Transport Co-ordination Act of 1986 repealed the earlier State Transport Co-ordination Act and Transport Commission Act and amalgamated the offices of Co-ordinator General of Transport and the Transport Commission to form the Department of Transport [2].

On 6 August 2001, the following functions were transferred to the newly established Department of Planning and Infrastructure: Policies and Plans, Passenger and Freight Services, and Infrastructure Development and Management.

The Department of Transport then operated in a reduced environment, with only activities relating to Education and Regulation - essentially, Licensing Services and the Office of Road Safety - falling within its jurisdiction.

The Road Safety Council Bill 2001 completed its passage through State Parliament on 22 May 2002, giving the Road Safety Council its own legislation, which enabled the Office of Road Safety to transfer to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet.

The Machinery of Government (Planning and Infrastructure) Amendment Bill 2001 completed its passage through Parliament on 12 June 2002. This Bill enabled the Transport Co-ordination Act 1966 to be brought into the Planning and Infrastructure portfolio, and allowed for the abolition of the Department of Transport.

Both Bills became effective on 1 July 2002. As a result, the process for abolishing the Department of Transport began and the licensing functions undertaken by Transport were transferred to the Department for Planning and Infrastructure on 1 July that same year.