Department of Industry and Commerce (1975–1982)

The Department of Industry and Commerce was an Australian government department that existed between December 1975 and May 1982.

Department of Industry and Commerce

Department overview
Formed	22 December 1975[1]
Preceding Department	Department of Tourism and Recreation – for tourism Department of Transport (III) – for shipbuilding Department of Manufacturing Industry
Dissolved	7 May 1982[1]
Superseding Department	Department of Defence Support Department of Industry and Commerce (II)
Jurisdiction	Commonwealth of Australia
Headquarters	Barton, Canberra
Ministers responsible	Bob Cotton, Minister (1975–1977) Phillip Lynch, Minister (1977–1982)
Department executive	Neil Currie, Secretary

Scope

Information about the department's functions and government funding allocation could be found in the Administrative Arrangements Orders, the annual Portfolio Budget Statements and in the Department's annual reports.

At its creation, the Department dealt with:^[1]

• The efficiency and development of manufacturing and tertiary industries and research relating thereto
• Adjustment assistance to industry
• Assistance to small business
• Manufacture of goods and provision of services
• Shipbuilding

Structure

The Department was an Australian Public Service department, staffed by officials who were responsible to the Minister for Industry and Commerce.^[1]