AGY-3529 | Department of Commerce

Full description

The Department of Commerce was formed after the March 2003 State election and incorporates the functions of the former departments of Industrial Relations, Fair Trading, Public Works and Services and the Office of Information Technology.

The Department of Commerce provides services and advice to ensure consistent, fair and ethical business practices in New South Wales for government, industry, employees and consumers through:
· compliance with industrial obligations
· compliance with fair trading principles
· licensing
· education and information services
· use and application of technology
· transparent and consistent procurement practices
· procurement
· public infrastructure
· property
· corporate services
· electronic services
· education and information services
· telecommunications and information technology infrastructure (1)

The Office of Fair Trading safeguards consumer rights and advises business and traders on fair and ethical practice. The Office of Fair Trading also registers businesses and promotes co-operatives, provides occupational licensing and maintains product safety and standards (2). One of its major objectives is to inform and educate the State’s consumers and traders so that consumers can make better purchasing decisions.

The Office of Industrial Relations works with employees, employers and their representatives to facilitate equitable, innovative and productive workplace relations. The Office of Industrial Relations promotes compliance with New South Wales industrial legislation, promotes employment equity in New South Wales workplaces and promotes workplace reform in New South Wales (3).

The Office of Government Business brings together a comprehensive range of commercial services for government in property, public infrastructure, and office and corporate services.

The Office of Government Procurement simplifies procurement for suppliers and government buyers, and reduces the cost of conducting government business. It provides a range of services across government that are related to the purchase of goods and services, including construction.

The Office of Information and Communications Technology plays a leadership role in developing and driving whole of government initiatives for the use and management of information and communications technology within government, industry and the community (4).

In 2006 the Department of Commerce comprised four offices: the Office of Fair Trading, the Office of Industrial Relations, the Office of Public Works and Services and NSW Procurement. (5)

The State Records Authority of New South Wales became a business unit of NSW Procurement within the Department of Commerce from 1 November 2006. (6) From 10 December 2007 State Records was aligned with the Government Chief Information Office and reported to the Government Chief Information Officer. (7)

From 1 July 2009 the Department of Commerce was abolished and its functions were transferred to the new Principal Department, the Department of Services, Technology and Administration. (8)

Endnotes
(1) Department of Commerce, Annual Report, 2002/03, p.1.
(2) Office of Fair Trading website http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/corporate/aboutus.html (accessed 17 December 2003).
(3) Office of Industrial Relations website
http://www.industrialrelations.nsw.gov.au/about/services/commit/commit.html
(accessed 17 December 2003).
(4) Office of Information and Communication Technology website http://www.oit.nsw.gov.au/ accessed (17 December 2003).
(5) NSW Department of Commerce website http://www.commerce.nsw.gov.au/About+Commerce/About+Commerce.htm (accessed 1 November 2006).
(6) NSW Government Gazette, No. 127, 27 October 2006, p.8903 and NSW Government Directory website for NSW Procurement http://www.directory.nsw.gov.au/showOrgUnit.asp?id={D2616F15-6474-432F-B85C-6852EC2F56C0} (accessed 1 November 2006).
(7) State Records Authority of New South Wales, Annual Report, 2007-2008, p.75.
(8) Public Sector Employment and Management (Departmental Amalgamations) Order 2009 (2009 No 352); notified on NSW Legislation website, 27 July 2009, cl. 28.