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Communications & mediaAgency

Australian News and Information Bureau

ANIB · News and Information Bureau

1940 – 1973

Renamed Australian Information Service in 1973.

Government news, photographic, film and publicity service that publicised Australia at home and overseas, with information offices in centres such as New York and London.

Names over time

  1. Australian News and Information Bureau1940–1973
  2. Australian Information Service1973–1986

How it came into existence

Set up in 1940 by the Department of Information as its news and overseas publicity arm. When the Department of Information was abolished in March 1950 the bureau moved to the Department of the Interior, also taking over the department's Film Division.

Changes during its life

  1. 16 March 1950Moved to the Department of the Interior when the Department of Information was abolished.
  2. 19 December 1972Moved to the new Department of the Media.
  • Took over functions from Department of Information · 16 March 1950
    • Documentary film production (Film Division)
    • Remaining government information and publicity work
  • Took over functions from Australian National Film Board · 1950
    • direction of government documentary film production
  • Part split off to form Commonwealth Film Unit · 1956
    • government documentary film production

    Formerly the bureau's Film Division.

How it ended

Became the Australian Information Service in 1973 under the Department of the Media.

Main functions

  • Overseas information and publicity offices
  • News and feature services
  • Government photography
  • Documentary film production (to 1956)
  • Publications promoting Australia

Where it sits

Last in the portfolio of Department of the Media.

Lineage

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Sources

Some dates or links for this organisation are uncertain. Corrections are welcome.