The Department of Home Affairs [II] was created by Executive Council Minute of 10 December 1928 and gazetted on 13 December 1928
(Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. 136 of 13 December 1928 p 3465). Its creation was in reality a change in name from The Department of Home and Territories (CA 15) whose functions were transferred almost intact. 

The functions of the Department of Home and Territories were transferred to the Department of Home Affairs [II] in entirety, with the exception of those relating to the Territory of New Guinea, Papua and Norfolk Island, which went to the Departments of the Prime Minister and External Affairs. According to the Administrative Arrangements Orders of 11 December 1928 (Commonwealth Gazette No. 139 of 15 December 1928, p.3503-06), the functions of the Department of Home Affairs [II] were:  

 Actuarial matters
 Aliens' registration (new matter, as The Aliens' Registration Act  
  1920 had not appeared before its suspension by Act of 1926)    
 Astronomy 
 Australian War Memorial
 Census and Statistics
 Commonwealth Literary Fund
 Elections
 Emigration from Australia of children and aboriginal natives
 Forestry
 Franchise
 Immigration restrictions
 Indentured coloured labour
 Meteorology
 Naturalisation
 North Australia and Central Australia
 Northern Territory
 Oil investigation
 Oil prospecting (encouragement of)
 Passports
 Pearl shelling and Trepang fisheries in Australian waters
  beyond territorial limits
 People of races (other than the aboriginal races in any State) for  
  whom it is deemed necessary to make special laws
 Prisoners from territories
 Prospecting for precious metals (assistance for)
 Seat of Government (This function included The Federal Capital
  Commission which was abolished 1930. Its functions were transferred
  to The Federal Capital Territory Branch of Home Affairs, with the
  exception of those relating to Transport. The Federal Capital
  Transportation Branch of Home Affairs was abolished and a Federal
  Transport Council established under the Department of Transport. 
  Police functions for the Capital Territory were administered by the
  Attorney-General's Department).
 Solar Observatory.
 
Acts administered by the Department of Home Affairs were:
 
 Aliens' Registration Act 1920 (See Aliens' Registration Suspension  
  Act 1928)
 Australian War Memorial Act 1925
 Census and Statistics Act 1905-20
 Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918-28
 Contract Immigrants Act 1905
 Emigration Act 1910
 Immigration Act 1901-25
 Jervis Bay Territory Acceptance Act 1915
 Meteorology Act 1906
 Nationality Act 1920-25
 Northern Australia Act 1926
 Northern Territory Acceptance Act 1910-19
 Northern Territory (Administration) Act 1910-26(1931)
 Northern Territory Representation Act 1922-25
 Passports Act 1920
 Petroleum Prospecting Acts 1926-28
 Precious Metals Prospecting Act 1926
 Referendum (Constitution Alteration) Act 1906-28
 Removal of Prisoners (Territories) Act 1923
 Representation Act 1905
 Seat of Government Act 1908
 Seat of Government Acceptance Act 1909
 Seat of Government (Administration) Act 1910
 Seat of Government (Acceptance) Act 1922
 Seat of Government (Administration) Act 1924-26
 Senate Elections Act 1903-22
 Statistical Bureau (Tasmania) Act 1924
 War Graves Act 1915-16
 
According to the Financial Estimates 1929-31 (Parliamentary Paper, General and Finance, Session 1929-30-31 vol IV) the Department of Home Affairs was in six Divisions:
 
1. Administrative (included Immigration, passports and
   naturalisation  branch, territories branch and lands branch)
 
2. Electoral Office
 
3. Census and Statistics  (This included actuarial matters)
 
4. Meteorological branch
 
5. Solar Observatory
 
6. Forestry  (This included the Commonwealth Forestry Bureau and
   Australian Forestry School)
 
The Department of Home Affairs was abolished by Executive Council Minute (P M 35 of 12 April 1932) (Commonwealth Gazette, No 33 of 14 April 1932, p 520) in the amalgamation of the Departments of Home Affairs, Transport [I] (CA 26) and Works and Railways (CA 14) as the Department of the Interior [I] (CA 27).  Most of the functions of Home Affairs passed to the Department of the Interior on its establishment, 1932.  Census and Statistics functions passed to the Department of the Treasury;  prisoners from territories passed to the Prime Minister's Department.

The following were Ministers for Home Affairs [II] :

10 Dec 1928 - 22 Oct 1929  : Hon Charles Lydiard Aubrey Abbott 
                             (CP 30) 
22 Oct 1929 -  6 Jan 1932  : Hon Arthur Blakeley
 6 Jan 1932 - 12 Apr 1932  : Hon Robert Archdale Parkhill
 
The Permanent Heads of the Department were:
 
10 Dec 1928 - 31 Dec 1928  : Sir William J. Clemens, CMG, ISO 
                             (CP 178)
 1 Jan 1929 - 12 Apr 1932  : P E  Deane, CMG (CP 78)
 
Sources
 
1. Commonwealth of Australia Gazette
2. Australian Parliamentary Papers, General and Finance, Session 1929
   -30-31 vol IV
3. CRS A 1573, Federal Executive Council Minute Papers Approved
   (Orders in Council) 1901-
4. CRS A 802, Public Service Board Registers for Permanent Staff
   Lists and Establishment Clarification c 1905-1946
 

Historical agency address
Canberra, Federal Capital Territory
Legislation administered
Creation: Executive Council Minute No.59 (P.M's. Minute No. 101) of 10 December 1928
Abolition: Executive Council Minute No. 32(P.M's Minute No. 35) of 12 April 1932.