Department of Home Affairs (1977–1980)

The Department of Home Affairs was an Australian government department that existed between December 1977 and November 1980. It was the third so-named Australian government department.

Department of Home Affairs

Department overview
Formed	20 December 1977
Preceding Department	Department of Administrative Services (II) Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Dissolved	3 November 1980
Superseding Department	Department of Primary Industry (II) Department of Home Affairs and Environment
Jurisdiction	Commonwealth of Australia
Headquarters	Canberra
Minister responsible	Bob Ellicott, Minister
Department executives	A.R. Palmer, Acting Secretary (1977–1978) Don McMichael, Secretary (1978–1980)

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 dealt with:

• Administration of Norfolk Island, the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands, the Territory of Christmas Island and the Coral Sea Islands Territory
• Women's affairs
• Support for the arts and letters
• National archives
• National museums

Structure

The department was an Australian Public Service department, staffed by officials who were responsible to the Minister for Home Affairs, Bob Ellicott.