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Communications & mediaAgency

Australian Government Publishing Service

AGPS

1 July 1970 – October 1997

Previously Commonwealth Government Printing Office (1927–1970).

The Commonwealth's central printer and publisher, producing and distributing parliamentary papers, legislation, the Commonwealth Gazette and government reports and running the Commonwealth Government Bookshops.

Names over time

  1. Commonwealth Government Printing Office1927–1970
  2. Australian Government Publishing Service1970–1997

How it came into existence

Formed on 1 July 1970 around the Commonwealth Government Printing Office, taking on responsibility for publishing, selling and distributing all official Commonwealth publications as well as government printing.

  • Renamed from Commonwealth Government Printing Office · 1 July 1970
    • Government printing
    • Commonwealth Gazette
    • Sale of government publications

    The printing office was reorganised as the core of the new publishing service.

Changes during its life

  1. 19 December 1972Moved to the new Department of the Media.
  2. 22 December 1975Moved to the Department of Administrative Services when the Department of the Media was abolished.
  3. 13 December 1984Moved to the Department of Local Government and Administrative Services.
  4. 24 July 1987Moved to the re-formed Department of Administrative Services.
  5. 24 March 1993Moved to the Department of the Arts and Administrative Services.
  6. 30 January 1994Moved to the re-formed Department of Administrative Services.

How it ended

Its production facilities, including the Government Printing Office, were sold to CanPrint Communications in October 1997 and printing, publishing and distribution became the responsibility of individual departments and agencies; its few remaining functions passed to AusInfo in the new Department of Finance and Administration.

  • Replaced by AusInfo · October 1997
    • Publishing and sale of government publications
    • Commonwealth Gazette
    • Commonwealth copyright administration

Main functions

  • Printing for the Parliament and government
  • Publishing and selling government publications
  • Commonwealth Government Bookshops
  • Producing the Commonwealth Gazette
  • Administering Commonwealth copyright

Where it sits

Last in the portfolio of Department of Administrative Services.

Lineage

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Sources

Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.