The Department of Labour was an Australian government department that existed between December 1972 and June 1974. This department was created and operated under the Whitlam government, with Clyde Cameron appointed as minister. The Department of Labour was a catalyst for the increase in the national minimum wage and pushed for the equalising of pay rates between men and women. During this period, Cameron pushed for paid maternity and annual leave. They also worked to reduce the number of industrial disputes for the Conciliation and Arbitration Commission. Many attribute the department's employment of wage indexation policies as a contributing factor to the 1975 economic recession.