Department of Markets and Migration

The Department of Markets and Migration was an Australian government department that existed between January 1925 and January 1928.

Department of Markets

Department overview
Formed	16 January 1925[1]
Preceding Department	Department of Trade and Customs – for the Commerce Branch Prime Minister's Department – for the Immigration Office
Dissolved	19 January 1928[1]
Superseding Department	Department of Markets (I)
Jurisdiction	Commonwealth of Australia
Headquarters	Melbourne
Ministers responsible	Victor Wilson, Minister (1925–1926) Thomas Paterson, Minister (1926–1928)
Department executive	Edward Joseph Mulvaney, Secretary

History

The Department of Markets and Migration was created to bring together Commonwealth activities that had previously been scattered across several different agencies.^[2]

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.

The Department dealt with dealt with all matters connected with the marketing of Australian products overseas, including dairy produce, canned fruits, dried fruits, fresh fruits, meat, eggs and pearl-shell. It also handled the following matters:^[1]

• The collection and dissemination of commercial and industrial information
• Financial assistance in connection with citrus fruits, canned fruits, Ohanez grapes, broom millet, hops, and other products; trade publicity and advertising overseas
• The British Empire Exhibition and exhibitions generally
• Advances to State Governments for the purchase of wire netting by settlers; rural credits
• Inter-Imperial trade matters

Structure

The Department was a Commonwealth Public Service department, staffed by officials who were responsible to the Minister for Markets and Migration, initially Victor Wilson (until 18 June 1926) and then Thomas Paterson.^[1]

The Department's Secretary was Edward Joseph Mulvany.^[3]