Department of Commerce and Agriculture
22 December 1942 – 11 January 1956
Previously Department of Commerce (1932–1942).
Department of State responsible for agricultural production and for the marketing, inspection and promotion of Australia's primary produce exports during the Second World War and the post-war decade.
Names over time
- Department of Markets1930–1932
- Department of Commerce1932–1942
- Department of Commerce and Agriculture1942–1956
How it came into existence
Renamed from the Department of Commerce on 22 December 1942 by the Curtin government (minister William Scully), reflecting its growing wartime responsibility for food and agricultural production. Shipping, navigation and lighthouses had already passed from the Department of Commerce to the Department of Supply and Shipping in October 1942.
- Overseas marketing of primary produce and export inspection
- Marketing boards
- Australian Trade Commissioner Service
Changes during its life
- Wartime food production planning and supply
- Wartime food production planning and supply
- Agricultural economic research and analysis
How it ended
Abolished on 11 January 1956 when the seventh Menzies ministry took office: agricultural policy, export inspection, the marketing boards and fisheries went to the new Department of Primary Industry, and export promotion, overseas marketing and the Trade Commissioner Service went to the new Department of Trade.
- Agricultural policy
- Primary produce marketing boards
- Export inspection
- Fisheries and whaling
- Bureau of Agricultural Economics
- Export policy and promotion
- Overseas marketing of primary produce
- Australian Trade Commissioner Service
Main functions
- Agricultural production policy, including wartime food production
- Overseas marketing of primary produce
- Export inspection of meat, dairy produce, fruit and other produce
- Primary produce marketing and control boards
- Australian Trade Commissioner Service and export promotion
- Bureau of Agricultural Economics (from 1945)
- Fisheries and whaling
Bodies in this portfolio (9)
- Australian Wool Board 1936–1945
- Australian Barley Board 1939–1948
- Central Wool Committee 1939–1945
- Australian Hide and Leather Industries Board 1939–1948
- Wheat Industry Stabilization Board 1941–1948
- Australian Potato Committee 1942–1948
- Commonwealth Food Control 1943–1946
- Australian Wool Board 1945–1953
- Australian Wool Realization Commission 1945–1952
Lineage
Loading lineage…
Sources
Primary sources
- Administrative Arrangements Order of 16 November 1950 (sets it out)
Other sources
Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.