The Department of Trade and Industry was established by the
Governor-General in Council on 17 December 1963, replacing the Department of Trade [I] (CA64). In the Administrative Arrangements Order of 20 December 1963, matters of "trade and commerce with other countries" and "industrial development" (renamed "secondary industry" in 1964) previously assigned to the former Department of Trade were allocated to the new department, which retained responsibility for them until its abolition.
 
The 1964 Commonwealth Government Directory (p. 42) said that the Department dealt with the following matters:
 
 Trade and Commerce with other countries:
 
 Activities arising from the international trade policies of 
 Australia and other countries. Particular aspects covered include
 the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, quantitative
 restrictions, subsidies, restrictive business and customs practice,
 exchange arrangements, export incentives and overseas shipping
 policies;
 
 Negotiate and administer trade agreements and treaties;

 Deal with problems relating to the commodity policies of other 
 countries which affect Australian international trade such as
 surplus disposals, stockpiling, barter arrangements and subsidies
 Assist Australian exporters and manufacturers to find markets abroad
 and publicise Australian goods in overseas markets by means of trade
 missions, exhibitions, publications, films and press articles;
 
 Administer the Trade Commissioner Service which is responsible for  
 investigating market prospects for specific commodities and finding
 new trade outlets for Australian manufactured products;
 
 Secondary industry;
 
 Encourage efficiency in industry, assist in the establishment of new
 industries and promote overseas investment in Australian industry
 Conduct surveys, reviews and studies of manufacturing industries and
 control the export of scrap iron and steel;

 Assist Australian industry to meet import competition by way of 
 protective duties and bounties, analyse import statistics and
 estimate levels of future imports, and analyse requests for
 temporary protection.
 
At the time of its creation the Department took over administration of the following legislation from the abolished Department of Trade [I]:  

 Customs Tariff (New Zealand Preference) Agreement Act 1933-1962  
 Export Payments Insurance Corporation Act 1956-1961 
 International Wheat Agreement Act 1962
 Secret Commissions Act 1905-1966
 Tariff Board Act 1921-1971, except to the extent to which that Act
 is administered by the Minister for Customs and Excise
 Trade Agreement-Belgium 1936
 Trade Agreement-Brazil 1939
 Trade Agreement-Czechoslavakia 1936
 Trade Agreement-France 1936
 Trade Agreement-Greece 1940
 Trade Agreement-South Africa 1936
 Trade Agreement-Southern Rhodesia 1941
 Trade Agreement-Switzerland 1938
 Trade Commissioners Act 1933-1936
 United Kingdom and Australia Trade Agreement Act 1932
 
The following legislation was added during the Department's existence:  

 Australian Industrial Development Corporation Act 1970
 Australian Tourist Commission Act 1967
 Industrial Research and Development Grants Act 1967
 International Sugar Agreement Act 1969
 International Tin Agreement Act 1971
 International Wheat Agreement (Extension) Act 1965
 International Wheat Agreement (Extension) Act 1966
 International Wheat Agreement (Extension) Act 1967
 International Wheat Agreement (Extension) Act 1971
 Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1971 Part XII and Sections 155-159
  (inclusive)
 Trade Practices Act 1965-1967 Part XA, except to the extent to which
 that Act is administered by the Attorney-General
 
Ministers responsible for the Department of Trade and Industry were:  
17 Dec 1963 -  5 Feb 1971: Rt Hon J McEwen (CP 47)
 5 Feb 1971 -  5 Dec 1972: Rt Hon J D Anthony (CP 55)
 5 Dec 1972 - 19 Dec 1972: Hon E G Whitlam (CP 99)                                                                     
 
Secretaries to the Department were:
 
17 Dec 1963 -  1 Feb 1971: Sir Alan Westerman
 1 Feb 1971 - 19 Dec 1972: D H McKay
 
The Department was abolished by an Order of the Governor-General in Council on 19 December 1972 (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette 19 December 1972, No 129A, p 1), its functions being taken over by the Department of Overseas Trade (CA 1485), the Department of Secondary Industry (CA 1487), the Department of Tourism and Recreation (CA 1491), the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (CA 1401) and the Department of Transport (III) (CA 1492).
 
 
Sources
 
Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, 16 February, 1962, No 10, p 631 Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, 18 December 1963, No 106A, p 4577A Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, 20 December 1963, No. 108, p 4668 Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, 23 March 1964, No 27, p 1157 Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, 16 May 1968, No 45, p 2791  Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, 19 December 1972, No 129A, p 1 Commonwealth Government Directory 1964, 1965, 1968, 1970, 1972
Historical agency address
  1964-  1967: Macquarie Street, Barton, ACT
  1967-  1972: Administration Building, King Edward Terrace, Parkes,
               ACT
Legislation administered
Created: Executive Council Meeting No. Of 17 December 1963
Abolished: Executive council Meeting No. of 19 December 1972