Department of Overseas Trade (Australia)

Australian government department, 1972–1977

The Department of Overseas Trade was an Australian government department that existed between December 1972 and December 1977.

History

The Department was one of several new Departments established by the Whitlam government, a wide restructuring that revealed some of the new government's program.^[2]

Scope

Information about the department's functions and government funding allocation could be found in the Administrative Arrangements Orders, the annual Portfolio Budget Statements and in the Department's annual reports.

At the department's creation it was responsible for:^[1]

• Trade and Commerce with other countries, including trade promotion
• Organising trade fairs, exhibitions and field days overseas to promote Australian made products
• Trade agreements and export services
• Publishing Overseas Trading^[3]

Structure

The Department was a Commonwealth Public Service department, staffed by officials who were responsible to the Minister for Overseas Trade.^[1]

References

1. CA 1485: Department of Overseas Trade, Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 9 February 2021
2. National Archives of Australia, Gough Whitlam: In Office, National Archives of Australia, archived from the original on 19 April 2013
3. Overseas Trading (NLA catalogue record)