Department of Communications (2013–2015) explained

Agency Name:	Department of Communications
Type:	Department
Preceding1:	Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
Dissolved:	21 September 2015
Superseding:	Department of Communications and the Arts
Jurisdiction:	Commonwealth of Australia
Employees:	495 (30 June 2014)
Budget:	A$113.190 million (2012/2013)
Minister1 Name:	Malcolm Turnbull
Minister1 Pfo:	Minister for Communications
Minister2 Name:	Paul Fletcher
Minister2 Pfo:	Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications
Chief1 Name:	Drew Clarke
Chief1 Position:	Secretary
Headquarters:	Canberra

The Australian Government Department of Communications was a department responsible for helping to develop a vibrant, sustainable and internationally competitive broadband, broadcasting and communications sector in Australia and promoting the digital economy.^[1]

The head of the department was the Secretary of the Department of Communications, Drew Clarke, who reported to Malcolm Turnbull, then the Minister for Communications.

History

The Department of Communications replaced the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (DBCDE) in September 2013 after the Liberal-National Coalition won the 2013 election.

In September 2015, the department was dissolved and replaced by the Department of Communications and the Arts.

Preceding departments

• Postmaster-General's Department (1 January 1901 – 22 December 1975)
• Department of the Media (19 December 1972 – 22 December 1975)
• Postal and Telecommunications Department (22 December 1975 – 3 November 1980)
• Department of Communications (3 November 1980 – 24 July 1987)
• Department of Transport and Communications (24 July 1987 – 23 December 1993)
• Department of Communications (23 December 1993 – 30 January 1994)
• Department of Communications and the Arts (30 January 1994 – 21 October 1998)
• Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts (21 October 1998 – 3 December 2007)
• Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy (3 December 2007 – 18 September 2013)

Operational functions

The Administrative Arrangements Order made on 18 September 2013 detailed the following responsibilities to the department:^[2]

• Broadband policy and programs
• Postal and telecommunications policies and programs
• Spectrum policy management
• Broadcasting policy
• National policy issues relating to the digital economy
• Content policy relating to the information economy

Notes and References

1. Web site: Corporate Plan 2011-13. About us. Commonwealth of Australia. 3 October 2013. 27 October 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130929195423/http://www.communications.gov.au/about_us/corporate_plan_2011-13. 29 September 2013. dead.
2. Web site: Administrative Arrangements Order . 18 September 2013 . . 27 October 2013 . . PDF . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131014052331/http://www.dpmc.gov.au/parliamentary/docs/aao_20130918.pdf . 14 October 2013 . dmy .