Formed 11 January 1956 Headquarters Barton, Canberra | Dissolved 12 June 1974 | |
Preceding Department Department of Trade and Customs - for sugar agreements, cotton, sulphuric acid, and policy in relation to bounties
Department of Commerce and Agriculture - for agricultural and pastoral industries and fisheries
Department of the Interior (II) - for War service land settlement Superseding agency Department of Agriculture (I) Jurisdiction Commonwealth of Australia | ||
The Department of Primary Industry was an Australian government department that existed between January 1956 and June 1974.
Contents
Scope
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 the department was responsible for the administration of Commonwealth policy on agricultural production, including responsibility for export inspection services, fisheries development and whaling.
Among other things, the department was tasked with developing price stabilization and marketing plans for many agricultural commodities, including wheat.
Structure
The Department was an Australian Public Service department, staffed by officials who were responsible to the Minister for Primary Industry.