Department of Markets and Transport explained

Agency Name:	Department of Markets and Transport
Formed:	10 December 1928
Preceding1:	Department of Works and Railways – for Commonwealth railways and war service homes Department of Markets (I)
Dissolved:	21 April 1930
Superseding:	Department of Markets (II) Department of Transport (I)
Type:	Department
Jurisdiction:	Commonwealth of Australia
Minister1 Name:	Thomas Paterson
Minister1 Pfo:	Minister (1928–1929)
Minister2 Name:	Parker Moloney
Minister2 Pfo:	Minister (1929–1930)
Chief1 Name:	Herbert Charles Brown
Chief1 Position:	Secretary
Headquarters:	Collins Street, Melbourne

The Department of Markets and Transport was an Australian government department that existed between December 1928 and April 1930.

History

When the Department was abolished, it was split into the Department of Markets (II) and the Department of Transport (I), and its functions divided between the two entities.^[1]

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.

At its creation, the Department was responsible for the following:

• Advances for purchase of wire and wire netting by settlers
• Assisting the following organisations
  • Dairy Produce Export Control Board
  • Dried Fruits Export Control Board
  • Dried Fruits Advances Repayments Board
  • Australian Dairy Council
  • Canned Fruits Export Control
• Board Board of Trade Collections and dissemination of commercial and industrial information
• Inspection, grading, packing and marketing of butter, cheese and other dairy products, meat, fresh, dried and canned fruits, seeds, vegetables, jams, honey etc., exported from the Commonwealth
• Lighthouses, lightships, beacons and buoys
• Matters connected with the overseas marketing of Australian produce exported, including applications for financial assistance in connection therewith
• Navigation and shipping
• Railways
• Representation at international exhibitions
• Rural credits
• Trade publicity and advertising in the United Kingdom and other overseas countries
• War service homes

Structure

The Department was a Commonwealth Public Service department, staffed by officials who were responsible to the Minister for Markets and Transport, Thomas Paterson until October 1929 and then Parker Moloney.

Notes and References

1. News: ESTABLISHMENT OF DEPARTMENT OF MARKETS AND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT. . . 33 . Australia, Australia . 1 May 1930 . 5 July 2023 . 861 . National Library of Australia.