The CSIRO Advisory Council was established under Section 15 of the Science & Industry Research Act 1949. The functions were:
 
a. to advise the Executive on the general work of the organisation; b. to advise the Executive on any particular matter of investigation or    research;
c. to advise the Executive with respect to any other matter which the    Executive refers to the Council for advice; and
d. to make recommendations to the Executive with respect to the    allocation of funds made available for carrying out the work of the    Organisation.
 
In order to help the Council perform its functions, ad-hoc sub-committees were appointed to examine aspects of CSIRO's work.
 
The Advisory Council was composed of:
 
a. the members of the Executive;
b. the Chairman of each State Committee;
c. such other members as the Advisory Council, with the consent of the    Minister on the recommendation of the Executive, co-opts by reason of    their scientific knowledge.
 
Membership of the Advisory Council was drawn from industrial, pastoral, academic and government circles and from the staff of CSIRO. The Council met at least twice a year and the Chairman was appointed by the Minister. The first meeting of the Advisory Council was convened on 22 March 1950 and the Chairman was Sir David Rivett.
 
As a result of the Birch Report, the Advisory Council was disbanded and reconstituted at the end of 1978, however, meetings continued to be numbered in the same sequence, ie to provide the Executive with advice on the objectives of CSIRO and on the priorities to be followed to achieve those objectives.
 
The last meeting of the Advisory Council was held on 25 November 1986. The Council was dissolved as a result of recommendations made by the Australian Science & Technology Council (ASTEC) Review of Public Investment into Research and Development in Australia, 1986.
 
 
Information supplied by: Ms Cathy Hobbs-Faulkner
                         Archives Section
                         CSIRO
 

Historical agency address
Canberra Savings Centre, Civic Square ACT
Legislation administered
Creation: Section 15, Science & Industry Research Act 1949