Department of Defence Co-ordination
13 November 1939 – 14 April 1942
Renamed Department of Defence in 1942.
Department of State responsible for defence policy and for co-ordinating the three service departments and the higher direction of the war effort in the early years of the Second World War.
Names over time
- Department of Defence Co-ordination1939–1942
- Department of Defence1942–present
How it came into existence
Created on 13 November 1939 by Administrative Arrangements Order, when the Department of Defence was divided into the Department of Defence Co-ordination and separate Navy, Army and Air departments. Prime Minister Menzies became Minister for Defence Co-ordination, with Frederick Shedden as secretary; the department also provided the War Cabinet secretariat.
- Defence policy and co-ordination
- Defence Committee and Council of Defence secretariat
How it ended
Renamed the Department of Defence on 14 April 1942, when Prime Minister John Curtin's portfolio title changed from Defence Co-ordination to Defence.
- Defence policy
- Co-ordination of the service departments
Main functions
- Defence policy
- Co-ordination of the Navy, Army and Air departments
- War Cabinet and Defence Committee secretariat
- Higher direction and co-ordination of the war effort
Lineage
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