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Foreign affairs & tradeDepartment of State

Department of Trade and Industry

17 December 1963 – 19 December 1972

Previously Department of Trade (1956–1963).

Department of State responsible for overseas trade, export promotion, tariff policy, secondary industry and tourism, headed by John McEwen and, from 1971, Doug Anthony.

Names over time

  1. Department of Trade1956–1963
  2. Department of Trade and Industry1963–1972

How it came into existence

Formed on 17 December 1963 by the Administrative Arrangements Order made after the November 1963 election, as the renamed Department of Trade, whose secondary industry and manufacturing responsibilities (held since 1956) were now reflected in its name and widened; John McEwen continued as minister and Alan Westerman as secretary.

  • Renamed from Department of Trade · 17 December 1963
    • Trade policy and agreements
    • Export promotion and the Trade Commissioner Service
    • Tariff policy
    • Secondary industry development

How it ended

Abolished on 19 December 1972 by the Whitlam government: trade went to the new Department of Overseas Trade and secondary industry to the new Department of Secondary Industry (both under Jim Cairns), tourism to the new Department of Tourism and Recreation, and the Tariff Board to the Prime Minister's portfolio.

  • Part split off to form Department of Overseas Trade · 19 December 1972
    • Trade policy, negotiations and agreements
    • Export promotion and the Trade Commissioner Service
    • Export credit insurance
  • Part split off to form Department of Secondary Industry · 19 December 1972
    • Secondary industry and manufacturing
    • Industrial research and development grants
  • Functions transferred to Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet · 19 December 1972
    • Tariff Board (portfolio responsibility)

    The Whitlam government placed the Tariff Board (and from 1974 its successor, the Industries Assistance Commission) in the Prime Minister's portfolio.

  • Part split off to form Department of Tourism and Recreation · 19 December 1972
    • Tourism
    • Australian Tourist Commission

Main functions

  • Trade policy, negotiations and agreements
  • Export promotion and the Australian Trade Commissioner Service
  • Secondary industry and manufacturing development
  • Tariff policy and the Tariff Board
  • Tourism, including the Australian Tourist Commission (from 1967)
  • Export credit insurance (Export Payments Insurance Corporation)
  • Australian Industry Development Corporation

Lineage

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Sources

Primary sources

Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.