The Department of Shipping and Transport was an

Australian government The Australian Government, also known as the Commonwealth Government, is the national government of Australia, a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Like other Westminster-style systems of government, the Australian Government i ...

department Department may refer to: * Departmentalization, division of a larger organization into parts with specific responsibility Government and military *Department (administrative division), a geographical and administrative division within a country, ...

that existed between May 1951 and December 1972.

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 Administrative Arrangements Order (AAO) made on 21 June 1951, the Department dealt with: *Shipping, including the best utilization of the Australian Coastal Fleet, the chartering of ships, the operation of Commonwealth-owned and chartered ships. *Shipbuilding and the repair and maintenance of ships (other than naval vessels). *Movement of Commonwealth explosives. *Provision of facilities at Australian ports for handling Commonwealth explosives. *Commonwealth Handling Equipment Pool. *Control and maintenance of coastal lights and other aids to navigation on the sea routes around the Australian coastline. *Control of marine services, such as surveys of ships, inspection of ships' gear, safe loading of ships, accommodation for ships' crews, engagement and discharge of seamen, examinations of masters, mates and engineers, licensing of ships to engage in coasting trade, wrecks and salvage, Courts of Marine Enquiry, Seamen's Compensation. *Collection of Colonial Light Dues and remission of collection to United Kingdom. *Commonwealth Railways. *Administration of Standardization of Railways Agreements. *Commonwealth aid for roads and works. *Australian Transport Advisory Council.

Structure

The Department was an

Australian Public Service The Australian Public Service (APS) is the federal civil service of the Commonwealth of Australia responsible for the public administration, public policy, and public services of the departments and executive and statutory agencies of the G ...

department, staffed by officials who were responsible to the Minister for Shipping and Transport.

References

Shipping and Transport Ministries established in 1951 1951 establishments in Australia 1972 disestablishments in Australia Defunct transport organisations based in Australia Shipping in Australia {{Australia-gov-stub