Department of Primary Industry (1975–1987)

The Department of Primary Industry was an Australian government department that existed between December 1975 and July 1987. It was the second so-named Australian government department.

Department of Primary Industry

Department overview
Formed	22 December 1975[1]
Preceding Department	Department of Agriculture (I) Department of Northern Australia
Dissolved	24 July 1987[1]
Superseding Department	Department of Primary Industries and Energy
Jurisdiction	Commonwealth of Australia
Headquarters	Canberra
Ministers responsible	Ian Sinclair, Minister (1975–1979) Peter Nixon, Minister (1979–1983) John Kerin, Minister (1983–1987)
Department executives	Walter Ives, Secretary (1975–1978) Doug McKay, Secretary (1978–1980) Lindsay Duthie, Secretary (1980–1986) Geoff Miller, Secretary (1986–1987)

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 Administrative Arrangements Order issued 5 October 1976, the Department dealt with:^[2]

• Agricultural and pastoral industries
• Fisheries
• Forestry

Structure

The Department was an Australian Public Service department, staffed by officials who were responsible to the Minister for Primary Industry.^[1]