The Department of National Development was established in March 1950, with Richard Casey, Baron Casey as its Minister.
Media reported that the new Department would plan for the supply of basic commodities, promote decentralisation and regional development and plan for the development of primary and manufacturing industries and the stimulation of housing construction.
[5] The Department was one of six abolished by the Whitlam government in December 1972.
[3] 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.
[1] In order of appointment, the Department's Ministers were: Richard Casey, Bill Spooner, David Fairbairn, Reginald Swartz and Lance Barnard,[1] and Kevin Newman between 1977 and 1979.