The National Film Board was created on 30 April 1945 by a decision of Cabinet (Agendum No. 834), in relation to a joint submission by the Treasurer, the Minister for Post-War Reconstruction, and the Minister for Information. The Board was set up to promote, assist and co-ordinate the production, distribution and importation of films for the purpose of school and adult education; rehabilitation; social development; international understanding; trade and tourist extension and immigration.
Among the recommendations adopted by the full Cabinet were that the Board for administrative purposes should be attached to the Department of Information, and that Department would be the Commonwealth authority responsible for the production of films recommended by the Board. The Cabinet decision carried with it provision of funds for the purposes of the Board and the film work of the Department of Information.
The necessity of such a Board had been evident for many years. The Board had a domestic as well as an overseas publicity function. The technical facilities and the personnel of the Department of Information (including the Cinema Branch) were available to the board as a readily available trained nucleus.
The Board, which had been meeting very infrequently during the early 1970s, had its final meeting on 30 November 1972, the minutes being signed as a true record of the last meeting on
1 March 1973. The activities of the Board were then taken over by the Australian Film Development Corporation.
Historical agency address
by 1959-1970: News and Information Bureau, Administration
Building, Parkes, ACT
by 1972-1973: Commonwealth Film Unit, Eton Road, Lindfield, NSW
Legislation administered
Creation : Cabinet decision No. 834 of 30 April 1945
Previous agency unregistered
? National Film Council, c 1940-1945