Department of Administrative Services (1987–1993) explained

Agency Name:	Department of Administrative Services
Formed:	24 July 1987
Preceding1:	Department of Housing and Construction (III) – for Government works, furniture, furnishings and fittings Department of Sport, Recreation and Tourism – for information coordination and services Department of Territories (II) – for the Parliament House Construction Authority Department of Science (III) – for meteorology, ionospheric prediction and analytical laboratory servicesDepartment of Resources and Energy – for geodosy and mapping functionDepartment of Arts, Heritage and Environment – for responsibility for the Australian Archives
Dissolved:	24 March 1993
Superseding:	Department of the Arts and Administrative Services
Type:	Department
Jurisdiction:	Commonwealth of Australia
Chief1 Name:	Graham Glenn
Chief1 Position:	Secretary (1987–1989)
Chief2 Name:	Noel Tanzer
Chief2 Position:	Secretary (1989–1993)
Headquarters:	Belconnen, Canberra

The Department of Administrative Services was an Australian government department that existed between July 1987 and March 1993. It was the third Australian government department bearing this name.

History

The department was created in July 1987 after the abolishment of several departments and was known as a "super ministry."

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.

According to the Administrative Arrangements Order made on 24 July 1987, the department dealt with:

Acquisition, leasing, management and disposal of land and property in Australia and overseas
Transport and storage services
Co-ordination of purchasing policy and civil Purchasing
Disposal of goods
Provision of accommodation and catering
Protective services at Commonwealth establishments
Analytical laboratory services
Meteorology Ionospheric prediction
National Archives
Valuation services
Geodesy, mapping and surveying services
Planning, execution and maintenance of Commonwealth Government works
Design and maintenance of Government furniture, furnishings and fittings
Information co-ordination and services within Australia, including printing, publishing and advertising
Electoral matters
Australian honours and symbols policy
Provision of facilities for members of Parliament other than in Parliament House
Administrative support for Royal Commissions and certain Committees of Inquiry.

Structure

The department was an Australian Public Service department, staffed by officials who were responsible to the Minister for Administrative Services.

The secretary of the department was initially Graham Glenn, with Noel Tanzer succeeding him on 1 March 1989. Tanzer's mandate was to have the department work as a unit and begin to operate in accordance with commercial principles.