The Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education was an Australian government department that existed between December 2011 and March 2013.
Information about the department's functions and/or government funding allocation could be found in the Administrative Arrangements Orders, the annual Portfolio Budget Statements, in the Department's annual reports and on the Department's website.
At its creation, the Department was responsible for the following:
Manufacturing and commerce including industry and market developmentIndustry innovation policy and technology diffusionPromotion of industrial research and development, and commercialisationBiotechnology, excluding gene technology regulationMarketing of manufactures and servicesEnterprise improvementConstruction industrySmall business policy and implementationBusiness entry point managementFacilitation of the development of service industries generallyTrade marks, plant breeders’ rights and patents of inventions and designsCountry of origin labellingWeights and measures standardsCivil space issues Analytical laboratory servicesScience policyPromotion of collaborative research in science and technologyCo-ordination of research policyCreation and development of research infrastructureCommercialisation and utilisation of public sector research relating to portfolio programs and agenciesResearch grants and fellowshipsInformation and communications technology industry developmentFood industry policyTraining, including apprenticeships and training and assessment servicesSupport for introduction of a national occupation licensing systemHigher education, skills and vocational education policy and programsIndigenous higher education and vocational trainingPolicy, coordination and support for international educationIncome support policies and programs for students and apprenticesThe Department was an Australian Public Service department, staffed by officials who were responsible to the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research, Chris Evans (December 2011 to February 2013) and Chris Bowen (February 2014 to March 2013) and the Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Greg Combet.
