The Department of Trade [II] was created on 11 March 1983 by a meeting of the Federal Executive Council (notified in Commonwealth Gazette, No S45, 11 March 1983). In his Press Statement of 10 March 1983 the Prime Minister Designate (the Hon R J Hawke) commented that the Department of Trade and Resources (CA 2477) had been renamed the Department of Trade (CA 3500) in view of significant changes to its functions. He said that:
 
 "the current split of responsibilities for minerals and resources 
 policies between National Development and Energy (CA 2979) and
 Trade and Resources (CA 2477) is not sensible; it causes needless
 confusion and distraction from getting on with assisting the
 development of these important industries. All responsibilities for
 domestic resources and energy matters will be consolidated in a
 Department of Resources and Energy (CA 3496). The Department of
 Trade will, of course, retain responsibility for assisting the
 private sector in the development of overseas markets for our
 mineral resources as it does  for other commodities."
 
The Administrative Arrangements Orders of 11 March 1983 (notified in Commonwealth Gazette, No S46, 11 March 1983) stated that the new Department of Trade dealt with the following 'principal matters':  

. Trade and Commerce with other countries in particular-
. Bilateral and Multilateral trade policy
. Trade promotion and services
. Trade agreements
. Export services.
 
The same source noted that the Department was responsible for the following legislation:
 
. Australian Overseas Projects Corporation Act 1978
. Customs Tariff (New Zealand Preference) Agreement Act 1933
. Export Expansion Grants Act 1978
. Export Finance and Insurance Corporation Act 1974
. Export Market Development Grants Act 1974
. International Sugar Agreement Act 1978
. Trade Commissioners Act 1933.
 
In effect, the new Department of Trade [II] was the former Department of Trade and Resources, less the responsibility for domestic
resources and energy which had passed to the new Department of Resources and Energy (CA 3496).
 
In the Commonwealth Directory of 1983 (Volume 2), trade portfolio, the Department's objectives were described as:
 
 "to maintain and further develop Australia's position in world
 trade; to pursue further liberalisation of world trade; to
 increase Australia's exports to manufacture and services; to
 develop new markets; to increase equity and efficiency of
 international commodity markets. To achieve these objectives, the
 Department formulates policy options for the Government on
 international trade and trading  objectives, undertake a variety of
 programs for promotion of Australian goods overseas and negotiates
 and monitors international trade and commodity commitments and
 agreements."
 
The Central Office of the Department was organised functionally into eight Divisions and an office of New Zealand Relations which operated as a separate unit responsible to the Permanent Head. The Divisions were as follows:
 
. Commodities No 1 Division
. Commodities No 2 Division
. Economic and Policy Division
. Management and Overseas Division
. Trade Policy Division
. Trade Promotion and Services Division
. Trade Relations and Markets Division
. Uranium Division.
 
In May 1984, changes were made to the structure of the Department of Trade [II] aimed at giving the department a greater focus on
marketing. The new divisions were as follows:
 
. Market development one
. Market development two
. Manufactures
. Services trade and export
. Management
. Agriculture and multilateral policy
. Economic policy and research
. Minerals and energy exports.
 
In the Administrative Arrangements Orders of 30 January 1986
(Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No S30, 31 January 1986) three Acts were repealed by the Australian Trade Commissioners Act, 1985 viz:  

. Australian Overseas Projects Corporation Act 1978
. Export Finance and Insurance Corporations Act 1984
. Trade Commissioners Act 1933.
 
There were also two new enactments, the Australian Trade Commission Act 1985 and the Trade Representatives Act 1985 for which the Department became responsible.
 
In the Administrative Arrangements Orders of 3 February 1987
(Commonwealth of Australia Special Gazette, 3 February 1987) the Department became responsible for a new enactment - the Australian Trade Commission (Transitional Provisions and Consequential
Amendments) Act 1985. The Department was abolished on 24 July 1987 (notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. S183, 24 July 1987) and its functions assumed by the new super-ministries of Industry, Technology and Commerce (CA 4132), Primary Industries and Energy (CA 5990) and Foreign Affairs and Trade (CA 5987).
 
Ministers for the Department were:
 
11 Mar 1983 - 13 Dec 1984   : Hon Lionel Frost Bowen
13 Dec 1984 - 24 Jul 1987   : Hon John Sydney Dawkins.
 
Secretaries to the Department were:
 
11 Mar 1983 -  1 Mar 1984   : J Scully
 1 Mar 1983 -  4 Mar 1986   : J L Menadue
 4 Mar 1986 - 24 Jul 1987   : Dr V W J Fitzgerald.
 

Sources
 
1. Commonwealth Government Directory, Vol 2, Trade Portfolio, 1983,
   p 1
2. Australian Financial Review, 4 June 1984, pp 12-13
Historical agency address
Edmund Barton Building, Kings Avenue, Barton ACT
Legislation administered
Creation: Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No. S45, 11 March 1983
Abolition: Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No. S183, 24 July 1987