Department of Resources and Energy

Department of Resources and Energy
Department overview
Formed	11 March 1983
Preceding Department	Department of National Development and Energy; Department of Trade and Resources;
Dissolved	24 July 1987
Superseding Department	Department of Primary Industries and Energy; Department of Administrative Services (III);
Jurisdiction	Commonwealth of Australia
Headquarters	Canberra
Ministers responsible	Peter Walsh, Minister (1983–1984); Gareth Evans, Minister (1984–1987);
Department executives	Alan Woods, Secretary (1983–1986); Graham Evans, Secretary (1986–1987);

The Department of Resources and Energy was an Australian government department that existed between March 1983 and July 1987.

History

The Department was one of three new Departments established by the Hawke government in March 1983,^[2] to ensure the priorities of the Labor government could be given effect to readily following the federal election of that month.^[3]

The Department was dissolved in July 1987 as part of a large overhaul of the Public Service that reduced the number of departments from 28 to 17.^[4]

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 its creation, the Department was responsible for the following:^[1]

National energy policy, including planning and research into coal, oil and gas, uranium, solar energy and other forms of energy
Radioactive waste management
Minerals exploration and resource assessment
Water resources, soil conservation, and electricity
Geodesy and mapping
Decentralisation and urban planning and development
Local government

Structure

The Department was a Commonwealth Public Service department, staffed by officials who were responsible to the Minister for Resources and Energy, Peter Walsh (from 1983 to 1984) and then Gareth Evans (from 1984).^[1] The Secretary of the Department was A.J. Woods (until 1986) and then G. Evans (from 1986).^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e CA 3496: Department of Resources and Energy, Central Office, National Archives of Australia, archived from the original on 16 March 2016, retrieved 4 December 2013
^ "Hawke outlines departmental changes". The Canberra Times. 11 March 1983. p. 6.
^ Hawke, Robert (10 March 1983), STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER-DESIGNATE, MR BOB HAWKE MP, archived from the original on 11 January 2014
^ Campbell, Rod (15 July 1987). "Enormous PS shake-up: 3000 positions abolished: 11 departments wiped out". The Canberra Times. p. 1.

[NAA_CA_3496-1] CA 3496: Department of Resources and Energy, Central Office, National Archives of Australia, archived from the original on 16 March 2016, retrieved 4 December 2013

[2] "Hawke outlines departmental changes". The Canberra Times. 11 March 1983. p. 6.

[CreationMR-3] Hawke, Robert (10 March 1983), STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER-DESIGNATE, MR BOB HAWKE MP, archived from the original on 11 January 2014

[4] Campbell, Rod (15 July 1987). "Enormous PS shake-up: 3000 positions abolished: 11 departments wiped out". The Canberra Times. p. 1.

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