Department of the Environment, Aborigines and the Arts
31 May 1971 – 19 December 1972
Previously Department of the Vice-President of the Executive Council (1971).
Department of State that combined the Commonwealth's new environment responsibilities with Aboriginal affairs and support for the arts, under minister Peter Howson.
Names over time
- Department of the Vice-President of the Executive Council1971
- Department of the Environment, Aborigines and the Arts1971–1972
How it came into existence
Renamed from the Department of the Vice-President of the Executive Council on 31 May 1971, when Peter Howson became Minister for the Environment, Aborigines and the Arts; Lenox Hewitt continued as secretary. Environment policy, a new area of Commonwealth activity, was added to its Aboriginal affairs and arts functions.
- Aboriginal affairs
- The arts
- National Library and Commonwealth Archives Office
- Government printing and publishing
How it ended
Abolished on 19 December 1972 by the Whitlam government: the Office of Aboriginal Affairs became the core of the new Department of Aboriginal Affairs, environment went to the new Department of the Environment and Conservation, the arts to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, film and government printing and publishing to the new Department of the Media, and the Commonwealth Gazette and official visits to the new Department of the Special Minister of State.
- Aboriginal affairs
- Environment and conservation
- Film industry support (Australian Film Development Corporation)
- Government printing and publishing (Australian Government Publishing Service)
- Government advertising
- Arts support (Australian Council for the Arts, Commonwealth Art Advisory Board, Commonwealth Literary Fund)
- Commonwealth Gazette
- Arrangements for official overseas visits
Main functions
- Environment policy and coordination of Commonwealth environmental matters
- Aboriginal affairs (Office of Aboriginal Affairs)
- Support for the Council for Aboriginal Affairs
- Arts support (Australian Council for the Arts, Commonwealth Art Advisory Board, Commonwealth Literary Fund)
- Film industry support (Australian Film Development Corporation)
- Government printing and publishing (Australian Government Publishing Service)
- National Library and Commonwealth Archives Office
Bodies in this portfolio (1)
- Office of Aboriginal Affairs 1967–1972
Lineage
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Sources
Primary sources
- Administrative Arrangements Order of 19 December 1972 (took effect as it ended)
Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.