On 6 April 1948 the Department of Munitions (CA 39) (with which the Department of Aircraft Production amalgamated on 1 November 1946) joined with the Department of Supply and Shipping (CA 47) to become the Department of Supply and Development [II]. (1)  Certain functions of the Department of Supply and Shipping were taken over by the newly constituted Department of Shipping and Fuel (CA 53) (Coal production and related legislation).
 
The functions of the Department of Supply and Development included:  

(a) research, design and development in relation to war material 
(b) the provision or supply of war materiel
(c) the manufacture or assembly of aircraft or parts thereof
(d) arrangements for the establishment or extension of industries for
    purposes of defence
(e) the acquisition, maintenance and disposal of stocks of goods in 
    connection with defence; and
(f) the arrangement or co-ordination of:
     (i) surveys, of Australian industrial capacity and the
         preparation  of plans to ensure the effective operation of
         industry in time  of war, including plans for the
         decentralization of secondary  industries and particularly
         those relating to defence; and
    (ii) the investigation and development of Australian sources of 
         supply of goods necessary for the economic security of the 
         Commonwealth in time of war, and, in particular, the
         investigation and development of additional oil and
         strategic mineral resources, the production of power alcohol
         from sugar or other vegetable crops, and the production of
         oil from coal or shale. (2)
 
Within the Department, the Aircraft Production Division (CA 672) was responsible for all Commonwealth Government functions in regard to the manufacture of fighter, bomber, and trainer aircraft and of aero engines and of other aircraft components required for the RAAF purposes. Aircraft repair and overhaul activities carried out for the RAAF in civilian establishments were also a function of the Division, together with the responsibility of supplying aircraft and engine parts.  

The Research and Development Branch was responsible for defence research and development projects in Australia including the Long Range Weapons Project, which was a joint United Kingdom - Australian project to develop and test long range weapons. The Long Range Weapons Organisation, under the direction of the Chief Scientist, consisted of three units - the Long Range Weapons Establishment, Salisbury, the Long Range Weapons Establishment Air Component, Mallala and the Long Range Weapons Establishment Range, Woomera.
 
In February 1949 the Aeronautical Research Laboratories (CA 2307) which had been established in 1937 by the Commonwealth Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CA 437), became part of the Research and Development Branch. The laboratories carried out fundamental research in aeronautical science, and also engaged in research for industry, the RAAF and civil aviation.
 
The Directorate of Supply (CA 543) was established under the Supply and Development (Administrative) Regulations in 1943 for the purpose of purchasing supplies or arranging services for War Departments. Provision was made in the amended supply and Development Act 1939-1948 for the Directorate to continue these functions and also to assume the additional responsibility of arranging for the sale or disposal, on behalf of the Department of Supply and Development, Navy, Army and Air, of all surplus or unserviceable property, War material, goods and services approved for disposal. (3)  The Disposals Division of the Directorate took over the duties of the Commonwealth Disposals Commission (CA 260) from 31 July 1949.
 
The Directorate purchased supplies and foodstuffs for the Naval, Military and Air Forces, as far as possible by public tender. The approving authority for the arranging of contracts was the Contract Board (CA 92), comprising representatives of the Department of Supply and Development, the Department of the Navy, the Department of the Army and the Department of Air.
 
Through the administration of the Acts under its charge, the Department was responsible for a number of bodies including the Commonwealth Tinplate Advisory Committee; the Bureau of Mineral Resources, Geology and Geophysics; the Australian Shipbuilding Board and the Australian Aluminium Production Commission.
 
The Commonwealth Tinplate Advisory Committee, which succeeded the Commonwealth Tinplate Board (CA 175) in 1946, was originally responsible for control over tinplate in Australia, but after control was abolished on 12 October 1949, the Committee was retained to give advice in the matter of overseas supplies.
 
The Bureau of Mineral Resources, Geology and Geophysics (CA 218) dealt with geology and geophysics, mining, engineering, petroleum technology and mineral economics.
 
The Australian Shipbuilding Board (CA 129) was also a responsibility of the Department. The Board was responsible for the building of Merchant ships and other vessels (including Navy vessels at the request of the Naval Board), for the repair and maintenance of all merchant ships and for the provision of day docking and repairing facilities for merchant ships.
 
The Australian Aluminium Production Commission (CA 250) was established to do all things necessary for the production of ingot aluminium in order to promote the naval, military and air defence of the Commonwealth and its territories. 
 
The Ministers for the Department of Supply and Development were:  

 6 Apr 1948 - 19 Dec 1949  : Senator the Hon J I Ignatius
17 Dec 1949 - 17 Mar 1950  : Hon R G Casey (CP 24) (4)
 
Secretaries to the Department were:
 
 6 Jul 1948 - 31 Jul 1949  : J K Jenson
31 Jul 1949 - 16 Mar 1950  : H P  Breen
 
On 17 March 1950 the Department of Supply and Development [II] was abolished and its functions passed to the Department of Supply, (CA 57) the Department of Fuel, Shipping and Transport (CA 55) and the Department of National Development [I] (CA 56). (6) 


References
 
1. Commonwealth Gazette, No 56, 6 April 1948, p 1849.
2. Commonwealth Year Book, No 38, 1951, p 1200.
3. Supply and Development Act No 18 of 1948
4. Australian Government and Politics, 1890-1963, C A Hughes and 
   B D Graham, Australian National University Press, Canberra, 1968,
   p 50.
5. Public Service Board Annual Report, 1973, p 122-124
6. Commonwealth Gazette, No 15, 17 March 1950, pp 665-667.
 

Historical agency address
Melbourne
Legislation administered
Creation: Executive Council Minute No. of 6 Apr. 1948
Abolition: Executive Council Minute No. 19, 16 Mar.1950