The Department of Commerce and Agriculture was an Australian government department that existed between December 1942 and January 1956.
Information about the department's functions and/or government funding allocation could be found in the Administrative Arrangements Orders, the annual Portfolio Budget Statements and in the Department's annual reports.
At the department's creation it was responsible for:
Agriculture ProductionAgricultural EconomicsAssistance to Primary ProducersAustralian Agricultural CouncilCollection and dissemination of commercial intelligence and general informationContact with State Departments of Agriculture regarding agricultural productionContact with the following organization and administration of any Commonwealth Acts under which they are established:Australian Apple and Pear Advisory CouncilAustralian Apple and Pear Marketing BoardAustralian Barley BoardAustralian Canned Fruits BoardAustralian Citrus Advisory CouncilAustralian Dairy Produce BoardAustralian Hides and Leather Industries BoardAustralian Meat BoardAustralian National Publicity AssociationAustralian Potato BoardAustralian Tobacco BoardAustralian Wheat BoardAustralian Wine BoardAustralian Wool BoardAustralian Wool Realization CommissionCommonwealth Food ControlCouncil for the Australian Pig IndustryDairy Produce Control CommitteeDried Fruits Control BoardEgg Producer's CouncilFederal Potato Advisory CommitteeField Peas BoardMeat Canning CommitteeMeat Industry Advisory CommitteeStanding Committee on AgricultureSuperphosphate Industry CommitteeWheat Industry Stabilization BoardWheat Stabilization Advisory CommitteeEastern Trade Advisory CommitteeExhibitions (organization of trade exhibits)External Trade - Overseas trade promotionFisheries - Administration of Commonwealth policy and co-ordination of State activities and control of fishing in extra-Territorial watersGeneral Trade inquiriesInvestigation of overseas trade mattersInspection and/or grading of dairy produce, meat, fruit (fresh, dried and canned), jams, honey, vegetables, etc., exported from the CommonwealthInvestigation of marketing, economic and other problems of farming industriesMarketing investigations abroadRural creditsRural man-powerTourist publicity abroadTrade Agreements-Administration of export aspectsCollaboration with other Departments in negotiationsTrade Commissioner ServiceTrade publicity and advertising in Australia, the United Kingdom and elsewhereTrade Surveys for specific commoditiesThe Department was an Commonwealth Public Service department, staffed by officials who were responsible to the Minister for Commerce and Agriculture.
