Department of Defence Support

The department was established by the Fraser government after a recommendation from the Defence Review Committee, which concluded that there were disadvantages in the previous large structure of the Defence Department.[2] Charles Halton became Secretary of the new department. In July 1984 a 27-person senior executive team was appointed to assist the departmental Secretary, of which only one was a woman.[3]

The department was abolished in December 1984, after Bob Hawke was elected Prime Minister in the 1983 Australian federal election.[4] Hawke reasoned that the needs of defence policy making in Australia would be better served if all responsibilities were bought together within the one portfolio.[4]

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.

Functions of the Department at its creation were:[1]

• Within defence policies approved by the Minister for Defence the following support for defence purposes -
  • Purchase of goods and services
  • Manufacture of goods and provision of services
  • Research and development
  • Development of Australian industry
  • Dockyard support.

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