Department of Communications and the Arts
30 January 1994 – 21 October 1998
Previously Department of Communications (1993–1994). Renamed Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts in 1998.
Department of State responsible for telecommunications, broadcasting, radiocommunications and postal policy, together with the arts, film, cultural heritage and the national collecting institutions.
Names over time
- Department of Communications1993–1994
- Department of Communications and the Arts1994–1998
- Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts1998–2007
How it came into existence
Created by the Administrative Arrangements Order of 30 January 1994 in a Keating government reshuffle, when the arts, film and cultural heritage functions of the Department of the Arts and Administrative Services were joined to the Department of Communications, which had existed only since 23 December 1993. Michael Lee became Minister for Communications and the Arts and Neville Stevens was secretary throughout its existence.
- Telecommunications
- Broadcasting
- Radiocommunications
- Postal services
- Arts and cultural development
- Film
- Cultural heritage
- National collecting institutions
Changes during its life
- Information economy policy
Created as an office in the Communications and the Arts portfolio.
- Administration of the national portrait collection
How it ended
On 21 October 1998, after the re-election of the Howard government, it became the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, which added information technology and information economy responsibilities.
- Telecommunications, broadcasting and postal services
- Arts and cultural policy
- National collecting institutions
- Built heritage matters
The scope of the heritage functions taken from the arts portfolio in 1998 is not confirmed.
Main functions
- Telecommunications policy and regulation
- Broadcasting and radiocommunications
- Postal services
- Arts and cultural development
- Film industry support
- National collecting institutions and movable cultural heritage
- Information economy policy (from 1997, through the National Office for the Information Economy)
Bodies in this portfolio (3)
- Australian Archives 1974–1998
- Australian Telecommunications Authority 1989–1997
- Spectrum Management Agency 1993–1997
Lineage
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Sources
Primary sources
- Administrative Arrangements Order of 11 March 1996 (sets it out)