Department of Science (1984–87)

The Department of Science was an Australian government department that existed between December 1984 and July 1987. It was the third so-named Australian Government department.

Department of Science

Department overview
Formed	13 December 1984[1]
Preceding Department	Department of Science and Technology
Dissolved	24 July 1987[1]
Superseding agency	Department of the Arts, Sport, the Environment, Tourism and Territories - for the Antarctic territories and related legislation Department of Primary Industries and Energy - for the Australian Institute of Marine Science Act 1972 Department of Employment, Education and Training - for coordination of research policy, research grants and fellowships; Anglo-Australian Telescope Agreement Act 1970 and associated agencies Department of Administrative Services (III) - for meteorology, ionospheric prediction and analytical laboratory services Department of Industry, Technology and Commerce - for patents, science and research policy, the civil space program, weights and measures and the Commission for the Future
Jurisdiction	Commonwealth of Australia
Headquarters	Canberra
Minister responsible	Barry Jones, Minister
Department executive	Greg Tegart, Secretary

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.

According to the National Archives of Australia, at its creation, the Department was responsible for:[1]

• Science policy and research
• Patents of inventions and designs, and trade marks
• Meteorology
• Ionospheric prediction
• Analytical laboratory services
• Weights and measures
• Administration of the Australian Antarctic Territory and the Territory of Heard Island and the McDonald Islands
• Commission for the Future.

Structure

The Department was an Australian Public Service department, staffed by officials who were responsible to the Minister for Science, Barry Jones.[1]

The Department was headed by a Secretary, Greg Tegart.[1][2]

References

1. CA 4136: Department of Science [III], Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 15 December 2013
2. "Biographical entry: Tegart, William John McGregor (1929 - )", Encyclopedia of Australian Science, National Library of Australia, archived from the original on 22 January 2014