Department of Post-War Reconstruction
22 December 1942 – 16 March 1950
Department of State that planned Australia's transition from a war to a peacetime economy, covering full employment policy, housing, rural and industrial reconstruction, regional development and the re-establishment of ex-service personnel.
How it came into existence
Created on 22 December 1942 by Administrative Arrangements Order, with Treasurer Ben Chifley as minister and H. C. Coombs as Director-General from early 1943. It took over the reconstruction planning work of the Department of Labour and National Service.
- Post-war reconstruction planning
Changes during its life
- Remaining organisation-of-industry controls
- Planning the transition of industry to peacetime
- Commonwealth housing policy
Housing is taken to have come from Post-War Reconstruction, which ran the Commonwealth Housing Commission; not confirmed from a source.
How it ended
Abolished on 16 March 1950 by the Menzies government. Its development planning and secondary industries functions passed to the new Department of National Development, and its remaining functions were dispersed among other departments, including the Repatriation Department and the Prime Minister's Department.
- Development planning
- Secondary industries and regional development
- Commonwealth Office of Education and Universities Commission
- Residual re-establishment functions for ex-service personnel
Main functions
- Co-ordination of planning for post-war reconstruction
- Full employment policy (1945 white paper Full Employment in Australia)
- Post-war housing inquiry (Commonwealth Housing Commission, 1943–1944)
- Rural reconstruction and war service land settlement
- Secondary industries and regional development planning
- Reconstruction training for ex-service personnel
Bodies in this portfolio (2)
- Council for Scientific and Industrial Research 1926–1949
- Commonwealth Housing Commission 1943–1944
Lineage
Loading lineage…
Sources
Government records and websites
Other sources
Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.