Agency number |
CA 1486 |
Title |
Department of Science [I], Central Office |
Institution title |
Department of Science |
Date range |
19 Dec 1972 - 06 Jun 1975 |
Series recorded by this agency |
Series |
Organisation controlling |
|
Location |
Australian Capital Territory |
Agency status |
Department of State |
Function |
19 Dec 1972 - 06 Jun 1975 19 Dec 1972 - 06 Jun 1975 19 Dec 1972 - 06 Jun 1975 19 Dec 1972 - 06 Jun 1975 19 Dec 1972 - 06 Jun 1975 19 Dec 1972 - 06 Jun 1975 02 Oct 1974 - 06 Jun 1975
|
Agency note |
This department was created on 19 December 1972 in pursuance of section 64 of the Constitution (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No 129A, 19 Dec 1972, p 1). Under the provisions of the Administrative Arrangements of 20 December 1972, the principal matters dealt with were:
- Science and technology, including research and
support of research
- Meteorology
- Ionospheric Prediction Service
- Patents of Inventions and designs, and trade marks
- Weights and Measures
- National Standards
(Gazette, No 131, 20 December 1972, p 9)
The department administered the following legislation:
- Anglo-Australian Telescope Agreement Act 1970-1971
- Antarctic Treaty Act 1960
- Australian Antarctic Territory Acceptance Act 1933
- Australian Antarctic Territory Act 1954-1963
- Australian Institute of Marine Science Act 1972
- Designs Act 1906-1968
- Heard Island and McDonald Islands Act 1953-1963
- Metric Conversion Act 1970-1971
- Meteorology Act 1955
- Mount Stromlo Observatory Act 1956
- Patents Act 1952-1969
- Patents, Trade Marks, Designs and Copyright Act 1939-1953 except,
to the extent to which that Act is administered by the Attorney
-General
- Science and Industry Endowment Act 1926-1949
- Science and Industry Research Act 1949-1968
- States Grants (Research) Act 1965-1966
- Trade Marks Act 1955-1966
- Weights and Measures (National Standards) Act 1960-1966
(Gazette, No 131, 20 December 1972, pp 9-10)
The following press release was issued at the time of the creation of the new department:
"Establishment of a separate Department of Science emphasises the
importance placed by the Government on the development of science
and technology.
"Although the name of the Department is 'Science' - wherever
possible Departments have been given short names - the new Minister
and Department will be as much involved with technology and
operational matters in the field of science as with research. A
balance is given to the activities of the Department by transferring
to it responsibility for both scientific research, eg through the
CSIRO, the development of policy and priorities for science and the
Commonwealth Analyst, and on operational matters, eg by transferring
to it administration of the Australian Antarctic Territory and the
Bureau of Meteorology. The Department takes over the science
functions of the former Department of Education and Science and has
added to them responsibility for the Bureau of Meteorology, and
administration of the Patent Office".
(From Press Release, 'New Departments: summary of main functions and
brief notes')
Under the Administrative Arrangements Order of 1 October 1974 (Executive Council Minute No 41, Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No 80B, 2 October 1974, p 12), analytical laboratory service was added to the list of the department's explicit functions. This was the first appearance of this function. In the same year the Department also inherited responsibility for administering certain aspects of the Defence (Transitional Provisions) Act 1946-1966, and the Defence Transitional (Residual Provisions) Act 1952 from the Attorney-General's Department.
Under the Administrative Arrangements Order of 8 February 1975 (Executive Council Minute No 4, Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No S 21, 10 February 1975, p 12), support of civil space research
programs, previously an implicit function performed by the Department of Manufacturing Industry (CA 1770), was explicitly included in the functions of the Department of Science. Under the same Administrative Arrangements Order, the Department of Science received responsibility for the Government Paint Committee from the Department of Defence [III] (CA 46).
Under the Administrative Arrangements Order of 6 June 1975
(Executive Council Minute No 23, Australian Government Gazette, No S 104, 6 June 1975, pp 5,1) a new matter, consumer affairs, was given to the department to administer. Accordingly its title was changed to "Department of Science and Consumer Affairs" (CA 1888). The function of research into minerals and solar energy was passed to the
Department of Minerals and Energy (CA 1482).
Minister of the Department of Science [I] was:
19 Dec 1972 - 5 Jun 1975 : Hon William Lawrence Morrison
Secretary to the Department was:
19 Dec 1972 - 5 Jun 1975 : Sir Hugh Ennor
Historical agency address 1972-by1973: Albemarle Building, Furzer St, Phillip ACT
by1973-by1975: Scarborough House, Phillip ACTLegislation administeredCreation: Executive Council Minute No. 47, 19 Dec. 1972
Abolition: Executive Council Minute No. 23, 6 June 1975 |
Previous agency |
19 Dec 1972 CA 1196, Department of Education and Science, Central Office - For scientific research and support of research; weights and measures and national standards 19 Dec 1972 CA 1407, Department of the Environment, Aborigines and the Arts, Central Office - National radiation advisory committee 19 Dec 1972 CA 31, Department of the Interior [II], Central Office - For meteorology, ionospheric prediction 19 Dec 1972 CA 5, Attorney-General's Department, Central Office - for function of patents of inventions and design and trade marks with relevant legislation 19 Dec 1972 CA 57, Department of Supply, Central Office - For administration of Antarctic Division 19 Dec 1972 CA 62, Department of Customs and Excise, Central Office - For Commonwealth Analyst 12 Jun 1974 CA 5, Attorney-General's Department, Central Office - For aspects of Defence (Transitional provisions) Act 1946-1966 and Defence Transitional (Residual Provisions) Act 1952 08 Feb 1975 CA 1770, Department of Manufacturing Industry, Central Office - For support of civil space research programs
|
Subsequent agency |
06 Jun 1975 CA 1482, Department of Minerals and Energy, Central Office - Minerals and solar energy research 06 Jun 1975 CA 1888, Department of Science and Consumer Affairs, Central Office - all functions (except minerals and solar energy research)
|
Controlled agency |
19 Dec 1972 - 06 Jun 1975 CA 1835, Bureau of Meteorology, Head Office 19 Dec 1972 - 06 Jun 1975 CA 1873, Australian Antarctic Division 19 Dec 1972 - 06 Jun 1975 CA 2072, Anglo-Australian Telescope Board 19 Dec 1972 - 06 Jun 1975 CA 2073, Advisory Committee on Research into the Crown-of-Thorns Starfish 19 Dec 1972 - 06 Jun 1975 CA 555, (1) Patent Office, 1904-1992;
(2) Trade Marks Office, 1906-1992;
(3) Designs Office, 1907-1992;
(4) Copyright Office [I], 1907-1913;
(5) Copyright Office [III], 1930-1969 19 Dec 1972 - 06 Jun 1975 CA 3897, Bureau of Meteorology, IPS Radio and Space Services 19 Dec 1972 - 06 Jun 1975 CA 2407, Australian Institute of Marine Science 19 Dec 1972 - 06 Jun 1975 01 Jan 1973 - 06 Jun 1975 CA 2918, Interim Commission for Consumer Standards 01 Feb 1973 - 06 Jun 1975 CA 8148, Australian Government Analytical Laboratories, Central Laboratory 12 Jun 1974 - 06 Jun 1975 CA 3677, Carnarvon Tracking Station 01 Feb 1975 - 06 Jun 1975 CA 2372, Australian Balloon Launching Station, Mildura [Victoria] 18 May 1975 - 06 Jun 1975 CA 2074, Interim Australian Science and Technology Council
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Date registered |
30 Sep 1987 |
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