On 18 September 1973, the Prime Minister, Mr Whitlam, announced that Cabinet had approved legislation which was to be drafted to establish an Australian Development Assistance Agency to be responsible to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. This proposal was to carry out the plank in the Australian Labor Party's platform which was inserted at the Surfers Paradise Federal Conference in July 1973. (PM's Press Conference, Parliament House, Canberra, 18 September 1973.)

A task force report from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Treasury, External Territories [II] and Education on possible organisational structures had been presented to the Prime Minister in June 1973 (The Canberra Times, 6 July 1973, p 2).

As necessary legislation for the formal establishment of the
Development Assistance Agency, had not been finalised by the 30 November 1973 when the Department of External Territories [II] was abolished, interim arrangements were made to carry out the functions of the Agency. An Office of Australian Development Assistance Agency was established in the Department of Foreign Affairs and commenced operations as from 1 December 1973. 

The Minister stated that "the fact that these were interim arrangements would not hold up the Government's plans to bring a new look to the administration of Australia's aid programs. The new structure would bring together the responsibility for all aid functions, including multilateral aid, aid to Papua New Guinea and bilateral aid programs to other countries. Staff for immediate operations would be drawn from existing staff in the Department of Foreign Affairs and External Territories" (Press release No M/176, 30 November 1973).

Functions of the Australian Development Assistance Agency as set out in November 1973 were:

   (i) To advise the Minister on Australia's bilateral and
       multilateral aid programs in accordance with the Minister's
       directions;

  (ii) at the direction of or under the delegation of the Minister,
       to apply such moneys as are appropriated to the Agency  by the
       Parliament to the social and economic development of
       developing countries and/or territories, including the relief
       of people affected by disaster, and contributions to approved
       international organisations and financial institutions
       engaged in the provision of development assistance to these
       countries and/or territories;

 (iii) the Agency shall assume responsibility for the aid aspects of
       Australian participation in:

      (a) Bilateral aid programs, including Aid to Papua New Guinea:

          . Colombo Plan;
          . South East Asian Treaty Organisation's economic
             development arrangements;
          . South Pacific Aid Program;
          . Special Commonwealth African Assistance Plan;
          . Australian Inernational Award Scheme;
          . Commownealth Co-operation in Education Scheme;
          . Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan;
          . Commonwealth Practical Training Scheme; and

      (b) Multilateral aid programs, including:

          . International Bank for Reconstruction and Development;
          . International Development Association;
          . International Finance Corporation;
          . Asian Development Bank;
          . United Nations Development Program;
          . United Nations Children's Fund;
          . United Nations Relief and Works Agency;
          . United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees;
          . United Nations Fund for Population Activities;
          . United Nations Fund for Namibia;
          . United Nations Trust Fund for South Africa;
          . United Nations Educational and Training Program for
             Southern Africa;
          . International Atomic Energy Agency - Technical
             Assistance;
          . International Red Cross;
          . International Wheat Agreement - Food Aid Convention;
          . World Food Program;
          . WMO - World Weather Watch;
          . Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation; and

      (c) Asian and Pacific Regional aid programs:
          . South Pacific Commission;
          . South Pacific Bureau for Economic Co-operation;
          . Regional Projects for Economic Co-operation in Asia;
          . Asia and Pacific Council - Registry of Scientific and
            Technical Services;
          . Internation Rice Research Institute;
          . Indus Waters Scheme;
          . Australian/Asian University Aid and Co-operation Scheme;
          . Foreign Exchange Operations Fund - Laos;
          . Exchange Support Fund, - Khmer Republic; and

       such other development assistance schemes as the Minister may
       direct.

The Australian Development Assistance Agency Act 1974 (An Act Relating to the Provision by Australia of Aid for Developing Countries) (No 137 of 1974) received assent and came into operation on 9 December 1974.

The Act, section 4(i) stated "There is established by this Act an Agency by the name of the Australian Development Assistance Agency". The functions as stated in section 5(i) were:

 (a) to administer the provision by Australia of aid for developing 
     countries, including the participation by Australia in the
     provision of multilateral aid for developing countries;

 (b) to administer the [Development Assistance] Fund;

 (c) to advise the Minister on matters relating to aid for
     developing countries; and

 (d) such other functions in connection with aid for developing 
     countries as the Minister approves.

On 2 February 1976, the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, announced the Government's intention to absorb the Australian Development Assistance Agency into the Department of Foreign Affairs as a Bureau. From early 1976, the Australian Development Assistance Agency was increasingly referred to as the Australian Development Assistance Bureau. In the Commonwealth Government Directory published in February 1977 it was referred to as the Bureau.

The formal abolition of the Australian Development Assistance Agency occurred with the proclomation of the Australian Development
Assistance Agency (Repeal) Act 1977. The Act abolished the Agency and transferred any rights, property or assets and debts, liabilities or obligations of the Agency to the Commonwealth. The Act was proclaimed to take effect from 1 July 1977.

The Australian Development Assistance Bureau (CA 2451), which replaced the Agency, continued as a separate record-keeping body under the Department of Foreign Affairs.


Sources

The Canberra Times, 29 Jun 1973, p 1; 6 Jul 1973, p 2
The National Times, 13-18 Aug 1973, p 4
The Australian, 19 Sep 1973, p 2
Foreign Affairs Press release, M/176, 30 Nov 1973
The Canberra Times, 4 Jun 1976, p 2
Australian Foreign Affairs Record, Nov 1976, p 598; Mar 1977, 
 p 157; May 1977, p 269
Commonwealth Government Directory 1977, p 144
Australian Government Gazette, No S119, 30 Jun 1977, p 2
Historical agency address
Derwent House, Hobart Place, Canberra. 
Staff also located at McEwan House, National Circuit, Barton and the Administrative Building, Parkes ACT
Legislation administered
Creation: Commonwealth of Australia Acts, No 137 of 1974, Australian Development Assistance Agency Act 1974
Abolition: Commonwealth of Australian Acts, No. 2405, 1977, Australian Development Assistance Agency (Repeal) Act 1977