Department of Minerals and Energy (Australia)

The Department of Minerals and Energy was an Australian government department that existed between December 1972 and December 1975.

Department of Minerals and Energy
Department overview
Formed19 December 1972[1]
Preceding Department
Dissolved22 December 1975[1]
Superseding agency
JurisdictionCommonwealth of Australia
HeadquartersCanberra
Ministers responsible
Department executives

History

The Department was one of several new Departments established by the Whitlam Government, a wide restructuring that revealed some of the new government's program.[2] The Department was dissolved shortly after the Dismissal.[2]

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.

According to the National Archives of Australia, at its creation, the Department was responsible for:[1]

  • Evaluation and balanced development of minerals and energy resources having regard to future requirements.
  • Geodetic surveying, and the production of topographical maps, for Commonwealth purposes.

In June 1975, the Department adopted matters from the Department of Science (I) when it was reformed into the Department of Science and Consumer Affairs.[3]

Structure

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

The Department was headed by a Secretary, initially (acting in the position) L.F. Bott (until December 1972) and then Lennox Hewitt (from December 1972 to August 1975) and finally J. Scully (from August 1975 until the department's abolition).[1]

References
  1. CA 1482: Department of Minerals and Energy, Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 12 December 2013
  2. National Archives of Australia, Gough Whitlam: In Office, National Archives of Australia, archived from the original on 19 April 2013
  3. CA 1486: Department of Science [I], Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 15 December 2013
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