Department of Housing and Construction (1983–87)  The Department of Housing and Construction was an Australian government department that existed between March 1983 and July 1987. Information about the department's functions and/or government funding allocation could be found in the Administrative Arrangements Orders, the annual Portfolio Budget Statements and in the Department's annual reports. The functions of the Department at its creation were:  The Department was an Australian Public Service department, staffed by officials who were responsible to the Minister for Housing and Construction.