Australian government department

The Department of Home Security was an Australian government department that existed between June 1941 and February 1946.

History

When the department was first established in June 1941, nearly two years after Australia entered World War II. Frederick Shedden carried out the duties of the head of the department when it was first established, at the same time as retaining his position as Secretary of the Department of Defence Co-ordination. Alexander Welch was appointed permanent head of the department in December 1941.

The department was transferred to Canberra in 1941, a step in the development of Canberra as Australia's seat of government.

In March 1944, the department's Secretary Alexander Welch was appointed Director of War Housing and M.J.S. Thomson was appointed acting secretary of the department.

The department was abolished on 1 February 1946.

Scope

Information about the department's functions and/or government funding allocation could be found in the Administrative Arrangements Orders, the Government Gazette, annual budget statements and in the Department's annual reports.

According to the National Archives of Australia reproduction of the Commonwealth Gazette from June 1941, at its creation, the Department dealt with:

Structure

The Department was a Commonwealth Public Service department responsible to the Minister for Home Security, initially Joe Abbott and later Bert Lazzarini. Department officials were headed by a Secretary.