The Department of Shipping and Fuel was an Australian government department that existed between April 1948 and March 1950.
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.
According to the Administrative Arrangements Order made on 13 May 1948, the department dealt with:[2]
Importation, sale and use of liquid fuels and petroleum products, including rationing and distribution of petroleum fuels and substitute and synthetic fuels
Mining and distribution of coal
Mining and distribution of oil shale and refining of shale oil products
Oil wells. Refining and distribution of locally produced petroleum products
Control and maintenance of coastal lights and other aids to navigation on the ocean highways of the Australian coastline.
Control of navigation services such as seamen's compensation, prevention of obstruction on shipping routes and fishing grounds, accommodation for ships' crews, welfare of seamen, maintenance of ships' gear, examination of masters and officers, Courts of Marine Inquiry
Shipping, including the best utilization of the Australian Coastal Fleet, the chartering of ships, the manning of ships
Stevedoring labor and operations, delivery of carto to and from ships, including wharf clearance and storage of cargo
Stowage and movement of explosives and dangerous cargoes at Australian ports
Policy in respect of shipbuilding and subsidy to promote the operation of Australian-built ships
