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. The matters dealt with by the department were: • Agricultural and pastoral industries • Fisheries • Forestry When the department was formed in 1974, media reported that it was "just a change in name" from the previous
Department of Primary Industry. This was in fact the case; the department's name was changed at the specific request for Senator Wriedt when he became Minister of the Department—intended to recognise practice overseas and in most of Australia's states. ==Structure==