Department of External Affairs
21 December 1921 – 6 November 1970
Renamed Department of Foreign Affairs in 1970.
The second Department of External Affairs, responsible for Australia's foreign relations, which grew from a small branch serving the Prime Minister into a diplomatic service with posts around the world.
Names over time
- Department of External Affairs1921–1970
- Department of Foreign Affairs1970–1987
How it came into existence
Re-created on 21 December 1921 by the Hughes government from the external relations functions of the Prime Minister's Department, including League of Nations matters. Until 1935 it was staffed and administered largely through the Prime Minister's Department.
- External relations
- League of Nations matters
Changes during its life
- 1935Became a fully separate department with its own permanent head, W. R. Hodgson, and staff, no longer administered through the Prime Minister's Department.
- Antarctic expeditions (ANARE)
- Antarctic policy support
- Antarctic Division (Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions)
Year of the move from External Affairs to Supply from secondary knowledge; it may have been in 1968 or 1969. The division passed to the Department of Science in December 1972.
How it ended
Renamed the Department of Foreign Affairs on 6 November 1970, with the same staff and functions.
- Foreign policy and international relations
- Diplomatic and consular network
Main functions
- External relations and diplomatic and consular representation
- League of Nations and later United Nations affairs
- Treaties and international agreements
- Pacific Islands matters
- Overseas aid, including the Colombo Plan (from 1950)
- Australian Secret Intelligence Service (from 1952)
Lineage
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Sources
Primary sources
- Administrative Arrangements Order of 13 April 1932 (sets it out)
- Administrative Arrangements Order of 16 November 1950 (sets it out)