Department of Defence Support

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Department of Defence Support
Department overview
Formed7 May 1982[1]
Preceding Department
Dissolved13 December 1984[1]
Superseding agency
JurisdictionCommonwealth of Australia
HeadquartersReid, Canberra
Ministers responsible
Department executive

The Department of Defence Support was an Australian government department that existed between May 1982 and December 1984.

History[]

The department was established by the Fraser Government after a recommendation from the Defence Review Committee, which concluded that there were disadvantages in the previous large structure of the Defence Department.[2] Charles Halton became Secretary of the new department. In July 1984 a 27-person senior executive team was appointed to assist the departmental Secretary, of which only one was a woman.[3]

The department was abolished in December 1984, after Bob Hawke was elected Prime Minister in the 1983 Australian federal election.[4] Hawke reasoned that the needs of defence policy making in Australia would be better served if all responsibilities were bought together within the one portfolio.[4]

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.

Functions of the Department at its creation were:[1]

  • Within defence policies approved by the Minister for Defence the following support for defence purposes -
    • Purchase of goods and services
    • Manufacture of goods and provision of services
    • Research and development
    • Development of Australian industry
    • Dockyard support.

Structure[]

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

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d CA 3254: Department of Defence Support, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 11 January 2014
  2. ^ Fraser, Malcolm (7 May 1982). "Ministry and Departmental Changes" (Press release). Archived from the original on 4 December 2013.
  3. ^ "'Significant change' in PS practice". The Canberra Times. 24 July 1984. p. 9. Archived from the original on 12 January 2014.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b Hawke, Robert (11 December 1984). "Changes to the Ministry and Departmental Arrangements" (Press release). Archived from the original on 11 January 2014.


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