The Department of Communications and the Arts was established on 
30 January 1994 pursuant to Executive Council Minute No.1 of that date (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No GN 5, 9 February 1994).
 
The Department gained the matters and legislation relating to communications from the short-lived Department of Communications [II] (CA 7852) and matters and legislation relating to the arts and the management of government records from the Department of the Arts and Administrative Services (CA 7663).
 
Matters dealt with by the Department were:
 
 Postal and telecommunications services;
 Management of the electromagnetic spectrum;
 Broadcasting services;
 Management of government records; and
 Cultural affairs, including support for the arts.
 
The Department was responsible for the following legislation:
 
 Archives Act 1983
 Australia Council Act 1975
 Australian and Overseas Telecommunications Corporation Act 1991 
 Australian Broadcasting Corporation Act 1983
 Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Transitional Provisions and  
  Consequential Amendments) Act 1983
 Australian Film Commission Act 1975
 Australian Film, Television and Radio School Act 1973
 Australian National Maritime Museum Act 1990
 Australian Postal Corporation Act 1989
 Broadcasting Services Act 1992
 Broadcasting Services (Transitional Provisions and Consequential  
  Amendments) Act 1992
 Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976
 National Gallery Act 1975
 National Library Act 1960
 National Museum of Australia Act 1980
 Parliamentary Proceedings Broadcasting Act 1946
 Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986
 Public Lending Right Act 1985
 Radiocommunications Acts
 Radiocommunications (Frequency Reservation Certificate Tax) Act
  1983  
 Radiocommunications  (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982
 Radiocommunications (Receiver Licence Tax) Act 1983
 Radiocommunications (Taxes Collection) Act 1983
 Radiocommunications (Temporary Permit Tax) Act 1983
 Radiocommunications (Test Permit Tax) Act 1983
 Radiocommunications (Transitional Provisions and Consequential  
  Amendments) Acts
 Radiocommunications (Transmitter Licence Tax) Act 1983
 Radio Licence Fees Act 1964
 Special Broadcasting Service Act 1991
 Submarine Cables and Pipelines Protection Act 1963
 Telecommunications Act 1991
 Telecommunications and Postal Services (Transitional Provisions and 
  Consequential Amendments) Act 1989
 Telecommunications (Application Fees) Act 1991
 Telecommunications (Carrier Licence Fees) Act 1991
 Telecommunications (Numbering Fees) Act 1991
 Telecommunications (Public Mobile Licence Charge) Act 1992
 Telecommunications (Transitional Provisions and Consequential  
  Amendments) Act 1989
 Telecommunications (Universal Service Levy) Act 1991
 Television Licence Fees Act 1964.

In the Administrative Arrangement Orders of 1 June 1994 (Commonwealth Gazette, No. S199, 6 June 1994) the Radiocommunications (Frequency Reservation Certificate Tax) Act 1983 was repealed by the Radiocommunications (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1992. The Radiocommunications (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 was repealed and is subject to further research. The Radiocommunications (Temporary Permit Tax) Act 1983 and the Radiocommunications (Test Permit Tax) Act 1983 were replaced by the Radiocommunications (Permit Tax) Act 1983. The Submarine Cables and Pipelines Protection Act 1963 was transferred to the Department of Transport [V] (CA 7854).

A minor change also took place in the same Administrative Arrangements Order. The Radiocommunications Taxes Collection Act 1983 title had the brackets around (Taxes Collection) removed.

The Radiocommunications Acts and the Radiocommunications (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Acts were  replaced by single entry new legislation, the Radiocommunications Act 1992 and the Radiocommunications (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1992.

In the Administrative Arrangements Order of 11 March 1996 (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No. S93, 11 March 1996) the Department gained the responsibility for:

  National policy issues relating to information and
  communications networks and services.

In the same Administrative Arrangements Order, the Australian and Overseas Telecommunications Corporation Act 1991 became the Telstra Corporation Act 1991.

In the Amending Administrative Arrangements Order of 23 April 1996 the Department gained responsibility for the new matter:  

  Centenary of Federation.

On 16 September 1997 the Prime Minister advised that Minister Richard Alston would be given the added responsibility of the Information Economy. His title was amended to Minister for Communications, the Information Economy and the Arts. It was also announced that the National Office for the Information Economy would be established as a separate entity within the Communications, the Information Economy and the Arts portfolio.

The above matter was referred to in the Administrative Arrangements Order of 18 June 1998 (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No GN 25, 24 June 1998). The previously mentioned:
  National policy issues relating to information and 
   communications networks and services

was reworded to:

  National policy issues relating to the information economy.

In the Administrative Arrangements Order of 21 October 1998, this department was abolished.

Ministers of the Department have been:
 
30 Jan 1994 - 11 Mar 1996  :  Hon Michael Lee
11 Mar 1996 - 21 Oct 1998  :  Senator the Hon Richard Alston
 
Secretaries of the Department have been:
 
30 Jan 1994 - 21 Oct 1998  : N R Stevens
 
  
Sources:

Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. GN 5, 9 February 1994
Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. S93, 11 March 1996
Amending Administrative Arrangements Order, 23 April 1996
Historical agency address
1994-1997: CWA Building, Cnr Moore Street and Barry Drive, Canberra
           ACT
1997-1998: 1 Sydney Avenue, Forrest ACT
Legislation administered
Creation: Executive Council Minute No. 1 of 30 January 1994 (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. GN 5, 9 February 1994)
Abolition: Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. S 514, 22 October 1998