Department of Minerals and Energy (Australia)

The Department of Minerals and Energy was an Australian government department that existed between December 1972 and December 1975.

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. The department was dissolved shortly after the dismissal of the government in 1975.

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.
According to the National Archives of Australia, at its creation, the department was responsible for:

Evaluation and balanced development of minerals and energy resources having regard to future requirements
Geodetic surveying, and the production of topographical maps, for Commonwealth purposes

In June 1975, the department adopted matters from the Department of Science (I) when it was reformed into the Department of Science and Consumer Affairs.

Structure

The department was an Australian Public Service department, staffed by officials who were responsible to the Minister for Minerals and Energy.
The department was headed by a Secretary, initially Lloyd Bott and followed by Lenox Hewitt and Jim Scully.