Department of Supply and Development (1948–50)


The Department of Supply and Development was an Australian government department that existed between April 1948 and March 1950.

Scope

Information about the department's functions and/or government funding allocation could be found in the Administrative Arrangements Orders, the annual Portfolio Budget Statements and in the department's annual reports.
The department was set up by the Chifley Government to control services that were deemed essential to supporting Australia's armed forces. Its creation saw the rearrangement of the Department of Munitions and the Department of Supply and Shipping. The functions of the department included:
The department was a Commonwealth Public Service department, staffed by officials who were responsible to the Minister for Supply and Development, initially John Armstrong and subsequently Richard Casey.

Abolition

The department was abolished by the Menzies Government in 1950 in a reorganisation planned by Richard Casey.