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Treasury & financeDepartment of StateExists today

Department of the Treasury

Treasury

1 January 1901 – present

The Department of State responsible for economic policy, taxation and revenue policy, the financial system and Commonwealth–state financial relations; until 1976 it also managed the budget, public accounts and expenditure.

How it came into existence

Established on 1 January 1901 as one of the seven original Departments of State, created by the Governor-General in Council at the inauguration of the Commonwealth, with Sir George Turner as the first Treasurer and George Allen as secretary.

Changes during its life

Main functions

  • Economic policy advice and forecasting
  • Taxation and revenue policy
  • Budget, public accounts and expenditure control (until 1976)
  • Financial system, corporations and consumer policy
  • Commonwealth–state financial relations
  • Foreign investment review
  • Invalid and old-age pensions (1909–1941)
  • Census and statistics (from 1932)

Where it sits

Type of body
Non-corporate Commonwealth entity
Portfolio
Treasury
Accountable authority
Secretary of the Department – Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 section 12(2) item 1
ABN
92 802 414 793

Bodies in this portfolio (75)

Lineage

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Sources

Primary sources

47 more Administrative Arrangements Orders set it out