To make better provision for tourism in the State. The Tourism Development Act 1970 thoroughly over-hauled existing administrative arrangements, making the Department part of the Public Service for the first time (though its control was vested in a statutory authority, the Tourism Development Authority). The 1970 Act consolidated existing legislation and made the Department responsible for the classification and registration of Guest Houses (formerly done by a separate board). An Accomodation Houses registration Committee was established to maintain the link with the Licensing Commission that had been provided by the previous board. The Director of Tourism continued to serve, with two Treasury Officials, on the Tourist Accomodation Loans Committee. The Committee advised the Minister on applications from developers for loans or loan guarantees. During the 1970s the Committee began to consider applications for projects that were not solely accomodation developments. The Department also established an advisory Indicative, Informative and Directional Signs Committee whose work is visible on the State's Highways. The Department maintained branches of the Tourist Bureau in Hobart, Launceston, Burnie and Devonport in Tasmania; Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide on the mainland. It also continued to operate caves at Hastings and Mole Creek. A new Act in 1977 ended the experiment with a statuatory authority controlling a department and recognised that the State's role in immigration was now minimal.