Department of Administrative Services (1975) explained

Agency Name:	Department of Administrative Services
Formed:	7 October 1975
Preceding1:	Department of Services and Property Department of Manufacturing Industry
Dissolved:	22 December 1975
Superseding:	Department of Administrative Services (II)
Type:	Department
Jurisdiction:	Commonwealth of Australia
Chief1 Name:	Maurice Timbs
Chief1 Position:	Secretary
Headquarters:	Canberra

The Department of Administrative Services was an Australian government department that existed between October 1975 and December 1975. It was the first so-named Commonwealth department, to be followed by three more.

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 made on 7 October 1975, the Department dealt with:

• Elections and referendums
• Provision of accommodation, staff and other facilities for members of the Parliament other than in Parliament House
• Australian Government purchasing policy
• Procurement and purchase of goods and services, as required, for Australian Government purposes
• Maintenance of stocks of any such goods
• Disposal of surplus goods
• Government transport and storage facilities in the States and storage and transport of goods in the Australian Capital Territory
• Advisory services on fire protection for Australian Government purposes in Australia

Structure

The Department was an Australian Public Service department, staffed by officials who were responsible to the Minister for Administrative Services.