A new Commonwealth Department of the Interior was created in 1939 when a number of matters under the control of the original Department of the Interior were transferred to other portfolios. Among many other matters, the second Department of the Interior was responsible for overseeing the emigration of children and Aboriginal people. It also retained responsibility for the administration of the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory. It was closely involved with the evacuation of children from the Northern Territory to southern states during World War II. The Department of the Interior was abolished in 1972 and its role split between nine other departments. Administration of the Northern Territory was transferred to the Department of the Northern Territory, and administration of the Australian Capital Territory was transferred to the Department of the Capital Territory.