Minister for Customs and Excise, 1955-56

Component identifier:

Series 16

Content Summary:

Osborne's first ministerial appointment, in January 1956, was as Minister for Customs and Excise. His term as Minister extended until October 1956 when he was appointed Minister for Air.

As Minister for Customs and Excise, Osborne was responsible for excise and tariffs on imports and exports, provision of customs related services, and surveillance of and inspection of goods arriving into Australia. During the brief time he was Minister, Osborne travelled to a large number of customs facilities throughout Australia. He also implemented "Operation Work Simplification", a program to overhaul departmental methods of operation.

The series comprises correspondence and other papers regarding such issues as visits to customs facilities, the removal of Fremantle Customs House, air traffic, and film and television censorship. The correspondents include Sir Arthur Fadden, Sir Frank Meere and Kim Beazley. The correspondence with Meere, the Comptroller-General, documents such topics as trade negotiations, customs and excise practices and procedures, customs facilities in Australia, the Board of Trade, and "Operation Work Simplification".

Immediate source of acquisition:

Frederick Osborne presented the first instalment of his papers to the Library in 1973, and a second instalment was received from him in 1995.

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