Department of Defence Production

{{Single source|date=February 2024}}{{Short description|Historical Australian government department}}

{{Use Australian English|date=September 2014}}

{{confuse|Department of Defence Production (Canada)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}

{{Infobox government agency

|agency_name = Department of Defence Production

|logo =

|logo_width =

|logo_caption =

|formed = 11 May 1951{{citation|title=CA 58: Department of Defence Production, Central Administration|url=http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/SearchOld.asp?Number=CA+58|publisher=National Archives of Australia|accessdate=28 September 2014}}

|preceding1 = Department of Supply

|dissolved = 23 Apr 1958

|superseding = Department of Supply

|jurisdiction = Commonwealth of Australia

|employees =

|budget =

|type = Department

|minister1_name = Eric Harrison

|minister1_pfo = Minister (1951‑56)

|minister2_name = Howard Beale

|minister2_pfo = Minister (1956‑58)

|minister3_name = Athol Townley

|minister3_pfo = Minister (1958)

| chief1_name = Harold Breen

| chief1_position = Secretary (1951‑57)

| chief2_name = John Knott

| chief2_position = Secretary (1957‑58)

| headquarters = Melbourne

}}

The Department of Defence Production was an Australian government department that existed between May 1951 and April 1958.

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.

The Department was created with responsibility for the manufacture and supply of munitions (armaments, ammunition, weapons, machine tools, war chemicals, radar), aircraft production and defence production planning.

Structure

The Department was a Commonwealth Public Service department, staffed by officials who were responsible to the Minister for Defence Production.

References