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On 11 March 1895 the Minister of Public Instruction became designated as the Minister of Public Instruction and Minister for Labour and Industry.(1)
The administration of the Government Labour Bureau was transferred from the Department of the Chief Secretary to the Minister for Public Instruction and Minister for Labour and Industry on 12 March 1895.(2) The Bureau was responsible for finding jobs for the unemployed as well as providing relief to families in distress and the homeless.(3)
The Department of Labour and Industry was formed by 4 December 1896 when it is listed as one of the responsibilities of the Minister of Public Instruction and Minister for Labour and Industry.(4)
The Department had become responsible for the following pieces of legislation by the year 1899:
The Agreements Validating Act;
The Trades Hall and Literary Institute Act 1893 (56 Vic., No.10);
The Apprentices Act 1894 (57 Vic., No.22);
The Factories and Shops Act of 1896 (60 Vic, No.37);
The Conciliation and Arbitration Act 1899 (62 Vic., No.3); and
The Early Closing Act 1899 (62 Vic., No.38).(5)
During April 1900 the Labour Commission was appointed by the Governor -in-Council. It had four members who were responsible for organising, classifying and controlling all labour not in employment. The Commission was placed under the control of the Minister for Labour and Industry. (6)
The Government Labour Bureau and the Labour Commission were transferred to the Department of Public Works in August 1900.(7)
The State Labour Bureau, (reconstituted from the earlier Government Labour Bureau), was transferred to the administrative control of the Minister for Labour and Industry on 22 March 1911. (8)
On 17 April 1912 the Industrial Disputes Act, 1912 (Act No.17, 1912) was assigned to the jurisdiction of the Minister for Labour and Industry. The Industrial Registrar, appointed under this act, was classed as the Permanent Head of the Department of Labour and Industry in November 1912. (9)
The Immigration and Tourist Bureau was disbanded and the immigration section transferred to the control of the Minister for Labour and Industry on 28 October 1918. However, the staff were not transferred until 1 January 1919.(10)
The Industrial Commission was added to the responsibilities of the Department of Labour and Industry when it was set up under the Industrial Arbitration Act, 1926 (Act No 14 1926) . The Workers Compensation Commission, which was set up under the Workers Compensation Act 1926 (Act No 15, 1926) also became the responsibility of the Department.
A new portfolio of Labour and Industry and Social Services was created on 5 August 1939.(11) The Department gained the function of Social Services, becoming the Department of Labour and Industry and Social Services on 11 November 1940.(12) Some of the functions that were transferred across include the provision of food, clothing, medical services, blankets and housing for the unemployed, as well as the training of unskilled workers and apprentices.(13) The Department also assumed control of Family Endowment Payments and Widows Pensions, although as of 1 July 1941 this became a Federal responsibility.(14)
On 8 June 1944 the name of the portfolio changed to the Ministry for Labour and Industry and Social Welfare. The Department then became the Department of Labour and Industry and Social Welfare.(15)
Social Welfare was transferred to the Department of Child Welfare and Social Welfare on 18 May 1956. the Department then resumed its former title of Labour and Industry.(16)
In 1969 the Consumer Affairs Bureau and the Consumer Affairs Council were established as part of the Department of Labour and Industry under the control of the Commissioner of Consumer Affairs. (17)
The Ministry of Consumer Affairs was established in 1974. The Consumer Affairs Bureau, Consumer Affairs Council, Weights and Measures Office, Prices Branch and Registry of Consumer Claims tribunal were all placed under its administration.(18)
On 1 July 1976 the Ministry of Consumer Affairs became a separate Department.(19)
During 1976 the administration for Workers Compensation Legislation was transferred to the Department of the Attorney General and Justice.(20)
On 1 March 1979 the name of the Department was changed from the Department of Labour and Industry to the Department of Industrial Relations and Technology. (21)
The Department of Industrial Relations and Technology was renamed the Department of Industrial Relations on 12 March 1980.(22)
On 6 August 1986 the Department of Industrial Relations merged with the Ministry of Employment to become the Department of Industrial Relations and Employment.(23)The functions transferred to the new department included the Community Employment Program, Youth Employment Scheme as well as the administration of the Employment Advisory Council.(24)
The Occupational Health and Safety Services and Council Secretariat, Division of Inspection Services, Division of Occupational Health, Division of Rehabilitation Services, Londonderry Occupational Safety Centre and Workcover Policy Unit were transferred from the Department of Industrial Relations and Employment to the Administrative Unit of the Workers Compensation and Rehabilitation Authority on 1 July 1989.(25)
On 24 July 1990 the Employment Division merged with the Department of Technical and Further Education to become the Department of Further Education, Training and Employment and a new Department of Industrial Relations was established. (26)
The Department of Industrial Relations merged with the Department of Further Education, Training and Employment on 23 January 1991, becoming the Department of Industrial Relations, Employment, Training and Further Education. (27)
Endnotes:
(1) NSW Government Gazette, No 175, 12 March 1895, p1729
(2) NSW Government Gazette, No 175, 12 March 1895, p1729
(3) Government Labour Bureau 1894/95, Votes and Proceedings, 1894-95, Vol 6, p455
(4) NSW Government Gazette (Supplement), 4 December 1896, p8776
(5)Report of the Department of Labour and Industry for the year 1899, Votes and Proceedings, Vol 6, 1900
(6) Public Service Board, Report on the State Labour Bureau with a view to its reformation, Parliamentary Papers, Vol 2, 1905,p124
(7) ibid.
(8) NSW Government Gazette, No 36, 22 March 1911, p1653
(9) NSW Government Gazette, No. 165, 20 November 1912 ,p6943
(10) NSW Government Gazette, No. 165, 20 November 1912, p6943
(11) NSW Government Gazette, No. 119, 8 August 1939, p4018
(12) NSW Government Gazette, No. 170, 6 December 1940, p4857
(13) Budget Papers, NSW Parliamentary Papers, Vol 2, 1941-42, p310
(14) Official Yearbook of New South Wales 1957 p591
(15) NSW Government Gazette, No 53, 8 June 1944, p984
(16) NSW Government Gazette, No 58, 18 May 1956, p1433
(17) Report of the Chairman of the Consumer Affairs Council upon the activities of the Council and Consumer Affairs Bureau for 1970. p.7.
(18) Report of the Chairman of the Consumer Affairs Council upon the activities of the Council and Consumer Affairs Bureau for 1974, p29
(19) Department of Labour and Industry, Annual Report,1975/76, Parliamentary Papers, 1976-77-78, Vol 7, p 1245
(20) ibid.,
(21) NSW Government Gazette, No 3, 9 March 1979, p1092
(22) NSW Government Gazette, No 45, 14 March 1980, p1220
(23) NSW Government Gazette, No 127, 8 August 1986, p3830
(24) NSW Government Directory 1987 pp187-203
(25) NSW Government Gazette, No. 81, 30 Jun 1989,p3825
(26) NSW Government Gazette, No 92, 24 July 1990, p6863
(27) NSW Government Gazette, No 20, 1 February 1991, p874
REFERENCES:
New South Wales Government Gazette. Sydney, Government Printer, 1895 - 1995
Blue Books (Public Service Lists) 1858 - 1960, Sydney, Government Printer, 1895-1960
New South Wales Government Directory. Sydney, New South Wales Government Information Service, 1977 -1996
Votes and Proceedings of the Legislative Council [of New South Wales], 1895-1905. Sydney, Government Printer, 1895-1905
Joint Volumes of the Parliamentary Papers of the Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly [of New South Wales]. Sydney, Government Printer, 1905 - 1980
Department of Labour and Industry, Annual Report, 1975/76
Department of Industrial Relations, Annual Report, 1995
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