Department of Supply explained

Agency Name:	Department of Supply
Formed:	16 March 1950
Preceding1:	Department of Supply and Development (II)
Dissolved:	12 June 1974
Superseding:	Department of Manufacturing Industry Department of the Special Minister of State (I) - for Australian Government purchasing policy
Type:	Department
Jurisdiction:	Commonwealth of Australia
Minister1 Name:	Howard Beale
Minister1 Pfo:	Minister (1950–1958)
Minister2 Name:	Athol Townley
Minister2 Pfo:	Minister (1958)
Minister3 Name:	Alan Hulme
Minister3 Pfo:	Minister (1958–1961)
Minister4 Name:	Allen Fairhall
Minister4 Pfo:	Minister (1961–1966)
Minister5 Name:	Denham Henty
Minister5 Pfo:	Minister (1966–1968)
Minister6 Name:	Ken Anderson
Minister6 Pfo:	Minister (1968—1971)
Minister7 Pfo:	Minister (1971–1972)
Minister8 Pfo:	Minister (1972–1973)
Minister9 Name:	Kep Enderby
Minister9 Pfo:	Minister (1973–1974)
Chief1 Name:	Harold Breen
Chief1 Position:	Secretary (1950–1951)
Chief2 Name:	Jack Stevens
Chief2 Position:	Secretary (1951–1953)
Chief3 Name:	Frank O'Connor
Chief3 Position:	Secretary (1953–1959)
Chief4 Name:	John Knott
Chief4 Position:	Secretary (1959–1966)
Chief5 Name:	Alan Cooley
Chief5 Position:	Secretary (1966–1971)
Chief6 Name:	Neil Currie
Chief6 Position:	Secretary (1971–1974)

The Department of Supply was an Australian government department that existed between March 1950 and June 1974.

History

Established in 1950, the Department of Supply headquarters transferred to Canberra in January 1968.^[1] ^[2]

In 1964 the Department won the Export Award for its contribution to Australia's export income and for its role in elevating Australia's international reputation in the field of advanced technology.^[3]

The Department was dissolved in 1974.

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 functions of the Department at its creation in 1950 were:

Australian Aluminium Production Commission
Control of materials which are or may be used in producing atomic energy
Manufacture, acquisition, provision and supply of war material involving operation and management of factories, workshops and undertakings concerned in the production of war material
Acquisition by the Commonwealth and the establishment of factories and workshops for the purpose of producing war material
Securing of supplies of materials, plant, tools and equipment for that purpose
Employment and training of technicians, workmen and others for that purpose
Arrangements and all action necessary to secure the supply, manufacture, processing and delivery of war material
Building of merchant ships and other vessels (other than naval vessels) and repair and maintenance of all merchant ships and the provision of dry-docking and repairing facilities for merchant ships
Control and limitation of profits in relation to the production of war material by private enterprise
Promotion and production of liquid fuels, and in particular, the production of power alcohol and benzol
Importation and use of tin plate
Procurement of supplies and foodstuffs for the Services and control of the production and distribution of supplies where their conservation is necessary

Structure

The Department was a Commonwealth Public Service department, staffed by officials who were responsible to the Minister for Supply.

Notes and References

News: Supply arrives. 6 January 1968. 8. ACT. The Canberra Times.
News: Move to Canberra: Supply to open in January. 19 December 1967. 12. The Canberra Times. ACT.
News: Department tops exporters. 26 May 1964. 3. The Canberra Times. ACT.