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Department of Foreign Affairs (Australia)

The Department of Foreign Affairs was an Australian government department that existed between November 1970 and July 1987.

Department of Foreign Affairs
Department overview
Formed6 November 1970[1]
Preceding Department
Dissolved24 July 1987[1]
Superseding agency
JurisdictionCommonwealth of Australia
Ministers responsible
Department executives

History edit

The department was created under the Gorton government, the new department representing a simple name change from the previous Department of External Affairs.[2][3] The old External Affairs title was sometimes causing confusion and the name change, initiated by William McMahon, brought Australia into line with common international practice.[4]

Scope edit

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.

In 1975, the department's functions were:[1]

  • The control and management of Australian Embassies, High Commissions, Consulates and similar permanent missions abroad having diplomatic and consular status.
  • Responsibility within Australia for relationships between the Australian Government and foreign diplomatic missions and consulates and the representatives of other members of the Commonwealth.
  • Publication of Diplomatic and Consular lists.
  • All communications between the Australian Government and other governments whether passed through Australian missions abroad or foreign missions in Australia and all communications with Australian Government representatives overseas.
  • All telegraphic traffic transmitted on behalf of Australian Government departments and authorities to overseas missions and all telegraphic traffic in the reverse direction.
  • The Diplomatic Mail Service and Safe Hand Mail Service.
  • Advice on Australian policy or matters that arise in the various organs of the United Nations and the Specialised Agencies associated with the United Nations and with the International Atomic Energy Agency. Apart from purely political issues these include questions of trusteeship, international relief and rehabilitation, and international economic and cultural relations.
  • To act as a co-ordinating authority and channel for Australian participation which includes co-operation with several Australian Government and State Governments and authorities.
  • Supervision over Australian participation in international conferences with a view to ensure co-ordination in policy and economy in representation.
  • Acting as the liaison between the United Nations and Australian non-governmental bodies.
  • Implementation of the Australia-New Zealand Agreement, the Security Treaty between Australia, New Zealand and the United States.
  • Foreign policy aspects of Australian participation in the South South East Asia Collective Defence Treaty.
  • Australian policy in respect of the South Pacific Commission.
  • Advice in most fields of public international law, relations with the International Court of Justice, the International Law Commission.
  • Negotiation and conclusion of treaties and international agreements, publication of the Australian Treaty Series and maintenance of the Australian Treaty List.
  • Advice on matters relating to Australia's cultural relations with other governments and co-ordination and implementation of the work of other agencies of government and non-government bodies in the external cultural relations fields.

Structure edit

The department was a Commonwealth Public Service department, staffed by officials who were responsible to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d "CA 1382: Department of Foreign Affairs, Central Office", National Archives of Australia, retrieved 9 February 2021
  2. ^ (PDF), Canberra: National Archives of Australia, 6 November 1970, archived from the original (PDF) on 12 February 2014
  3. ^ Gorton, John (6 November 1970). (Press release). Archived from the original on 11 April 2014.
  4. ^ "Dept's new name". The Canberra Times. 7 November 1970. p. 1.


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For the current department see Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Australia The Department of Foreign Affairs was an Australian government department that existed between November 1970 and July 1987 Department of Foreign AffairsDepartment overviewFormed6 November 1970 1 Preceding DepartmentDepartment of External Affairs II Dissolved24 July 1987 1 Superseding agencyDepartment of Foreign Affairs and TradeJurisdictionCommonwealth of AustraliaMinisters responsibleWilliam McMahon Minister 1970 1971 Les Bury Minister 1971 Nigel Bowen Minister 1971 1972 Gough Whitlam Minister 1972 1973 Don Willesee Minister 1973 1975 Andrew Peacock Minister 1975 1980 Tony Street Minister 1980 1983 Bill Hayden Minister 1983 1987 Department executivesKeith Waller Secretary 1970 1974 Alan Renouf Secretary 1974 1977 Nick Parkinson Secretary 1977 1979 Peter Henderson Secretary 1979 1984 Stuart Harris Secretary 1984 1987 Dick Woolcott Secretary 1987 Contents 1 History 2 Scope 3 Structure 4 ReferencesHistory editThe department was created under the Gorton government the new department representing a simple name change from the previous Department of External Affairs 2 3 The old External Affairs title was sometimes causing confusion and the name change initiated by William McMahon brought Australia into line with common international practice 4 Scope editInformation 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 In 1975 the department s functions were 1 The control and management of Australian Embassies High Commissions Consulates and similar permanent missions abroad having diplomatic and consular status Responsibility within Australia for relationships between the Australian Government and foreign diplomatic missions and consulates and the representatives of other members of the Commonwealth Publication of Diplomatic and Consular lists All communications between the Australian Government and other governments whether passed through Australian missions abroad or foreign missions in Australia and all communications with Australian Government representatives overseas All telegraphic traffic transmitted on behalf of Australian Government departments and authorities to overseas missions and all telegraphic traffic in the reverse direction The Diplomatic Mail Service and Safe Hand Mail Service Advice on Australian policy or matters that arise in the various organs of the United Nations and the Specialised Agencies associated with the United Nations and with the International Atomic Energy Agency Apart from purely political issues these include questions of trusteeship international relief and rehabilitation and international economic and cultural relations To act as a co ordinating authority and channel for Australian participation which includes co operation with several Australian Government and State Governments and authorities Supervision over Australian participation in international conferences with a view to ensure co ordination in policy and economy in representation Acting as the liaison between the United Nations and Australian non governmental bodies Implementation of the Australia New Zealand Agreement the Security Treaty between Australia New Zealand and the United States Foreign policy aspects of Australian participation in the South South East Asia Collective Defence Treaty Australian policy in respect of the South Pacific Commission Advice in most fields of public international law relations with the International Court of Justice the International Law Commission Negotiation and conclusion of treaties and international agreements publication of the Australian Treaty Series and maintenance of the Australian Treaty List Advice on matters relating to Australia s cultural relations with other governments and co ordination and implementation of the work of other agencies of government and non government bodies in the external cultural relations fields Structure editThe department was a Commonwealth Public Service department staffed by officials who were responsible to the Minister for Foreign Affairs 1 References edit a b c d CA 1382 Department of Foreign Affairs Central Office National Archives of Australia retrieved 9 February 2021 Commonwealth of Australia Administrative Arrangements Order PDF Canberra National Archives of Australia 6 November 1970 archived from the original PDF on 12 February 2014 Gorton John 6 November 1970 Department of Foreign Affairs Press release Archived from the original on 11 April 2014 Dept s new name The Canberra Times 7 November 1970 p 1 nbsp This Australian government related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Department of Foreign Affairs Australia amp oldid 1192755137, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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