Department of the Environment (Australia, 2013–2016)
{{Short description|Australian government department, 2013–2016}}
{{About|the 2013–16 Australian Government Department of Environment|the 1997–98 Australian Government Department of Environment|Department of the Environment (1997–1998)|the defunct 1975 Australian Government Department of the Environment|Department of the Environment (Australia, 1975)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2013}}
{{Infobox government agency
|agency_name = Department of the Environment
|type = Department
|logo = File:Logo_of_the_Australian_Government_Department_of_the_Environment.png
|logo_width =
|logo_caption =
|formed = {{Start date|df=yes|2013|09|18}}{{citation|title=CA 9438: Department of the Environment [III], Central Office| url=https://RecordSearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?Number=CA+9438 |website= National Archives of Australia |access-date=9 February 2021}}
|preceding1 = Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
|dissolved = 19 July 2016
|superseding = Department of the Environment and Energy
|jurisdiction = Commonwealth of Australia
|headquarters = John Gorton Building, King Edward Terrace, Parkes ACT 2600, Canberra, Australia
|coordinates =
|motto = "to protect and conserve Australia's environment and heritage"
|employees =
|minister1_name = Greg Hunt
|minister1_pfo = Minister for the Environment
|chief1_name = Gordon de Brouwer
|chief1_position = Secretary
|agency_type = Department
|website = {{URL|www.environment.gov.au/}}
}}
The Australian Department of the Environment was a department of the Government of Australia that existed between September 2013 and July 2016. The department was charged with responsibility for developing and implementing national policy, programs and legislation to protect and conserve Australia's environment and heritage.{{cite web |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/index.html|title=Home Page|work=Department of the Environment|publisher=Government of Australia|access-date=12 October 2013}}
Structure
The department was an Australian Public Service Department of State in the environment portfolio, under the Public Service Act 1999.{{citation|url=http://www.finance.gov.au/sites/default/files/FMACACFlipchart_0.pdf|publisher=Department of Finance|title=Chart of 109 Agencies under the FMA Act|date=1 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304225331/http://www.finance.gov.au/sites/default/files/FMACACFlipchart_0.pdf|archive-date=4 March 2014|url-status=live}}
The head of the department was its Secretary, Gordon de Brouwer, responsible to the Minister for the Environment, Josh Frydenberg.
History
The department was formed by way of an Administrative Arrangements Order issued on 18 September 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.dpmc.gov.au/parliamentary/docs/aao_20130918.pdf |title=Administrative Arrangements Order |date=18 September 2013 |publisher=Commonwealth of Australia |access-date=27 October 2013 |work=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922235407/http://www.dpmc.gov.au/parliamentary/docs/aao_20130918.pdf |archive-date=22 September 2013 }} It absorbed the responsibilities of the former Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities{{cite web |url=http://australia.gov.au/directories/australia/environment |title=Department of the Environment |work=australia.gov.au |access-date=12 October 2013}} and climate change from the former Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education.{{cite web |url=http://australia.gov.au/directories/australia/industry |title=Department of Industry |work=australia.gov.au |access-date=12 October 2013}}{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/tony-abbott-puts-broom-through-bureaucracy/story-fn59niix-1226721922686|title=Tony Abbott puts broom through bureaucracy |author=Packham, Ben|date=18 September 2013|newspaper=The Australian|access-date=24 September 2013}}{{cite press release|title=The Coalition will restore strong, stable and accountable government |url=http://www.pm.gov.au/media/2013-09-18/coalition-will-restore-strong-stable-and-accountable-government |first=Tony |last=Abbott |author-link=Tony Abbott |date=18 September 2013 |publisher=Commonwealth of Australia |work=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |location=Canberra, Australia |access-date=20 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130920044911/http://www.pm.gov.au/media/2013-09-18/coalition-will-restore-strong-stable-and-accountable-government |archive-date=20 September 2013 }}{{cite news|author=Wilson, Lauren|newspaper=The Australian|title=Coalition carves up the public service|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/coalition-carves-up-public-service/story-fn59niix-1226722363408|date=19 September 2013|access-date=24 September 2013}}
The department was dissolved in July 2016 and its functions, along with energy policy functions, were moved to the newly established Department of the Environment and Energy.{{citation|url=http://www.dpmc.gov.au/resource-centre/government/aao-amendment-19-july-2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160830110519/http://www.dpmc.gov.au/resource-centre/government/aao-amendment-19-july-2016|archive-date=30 August 2016|title=Administrative Arrangements Order – amendment made 19 July 2016|publisher=Australian Government}}{{cite news|url=https://newmatilda.com/2016/07/18/malcolm-turnbull-just-made-mr-coal-his-environment-minister/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160719140801/https://newmatilda.com/2016/07/18/malcolm-turnbull-just-made-mr-coal-his-environment-minister/|website=New Matilda|archive-date=19 July 2016|title=Malcolm Turnbull Just Made 'Mr Coal' His Environment Minister|first=Max|last=Chalmers|date=18 July 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-07-18/malcolm-turnbull-unveils-new-look-ministry/7638492|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160824050817/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-07-18/malcolm-turnbull-unveils-new-look-ministry/7638492|archive-date=24 August 2016|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=20 July 2016|first=Stephanie|last=Anderson|title=Election 2016: Malcolm Turnbull unveils ministry with Christopher Pyne, Greg Hunt on the move}}
From when it was established in September 2013 to when it was dissolved in July 2016 the department faced significant cuts (25 per cent cut from the organisation's budget over four years), in line with the Coalition Government's environmental deregulation policies.{{cite news|url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/up-to-200-public-servants-to-lose-jobs-in-environment-department-20140304-345lv.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304225546/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/up-to-200-public-servants-to-lose-jobs-in-environment-department-20140304-345lv.html|title=Up to 200 public servants to lose jobs in Environment Department|archive-date=4 March 2014 |date=5 March 2013|first=Noel|last=Towell|newspaper=The Canberra Times}}
Mission
The stated aims of the department were to achieve the protection and conservation of the environment; to ensure that Australia benefits from meteorological and related sciences and services; and to see that Australia's interests in Antarctica are advanced. The department developed and implemented national policy, programs and legislation to protect and conserve Australia's environment and heritage.
==Operational activities==
The functions of the department were broadly classified into the following matters:
- The Great Barrier Reef
- Environment protection and conservation of biodiversity
- Air quality
- National fuel quality standards
- Land contamination
- Meteorology
- Administration of the Australian Antarctic Territory, and the Territory of the Heard Island and McDonald Islands
- Natural, built and cultural heritage
- Environmental information and research
- Ionospheric prediction
- Co-ordination of sustainable communities policy
- Population policy
- Urban environment
- Development and co-ordination of domestic climate change policy
- Renewable energy target policy, regulation and co-ordination
- Greenhouse emissions and energy consumption reporting
- Climate change adaptation strategy and co-ordination
- Co-ordination of climate change science activities
- Renewable energy
- Greenhouse gas abatement programs
- Community and household climate action
- Water policy and resources
= Programs =
The department managed a number of major programs. The most significant of those dealing with natural resource management came under the umbrella of the Natural Heritage Trust and the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality. Both the Trust and National Action Plan were administered jointly with the Department of Agriculture.
= Divisions =
Divisions of the department included the Australian Antarctic Division, Supervising Scientist Division, Heritage Division, Parks Australia, Policy and Communications, Australian Wildlife, Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, Australian Land and Coasts plus a number of executive agencies and statutory authorities.
= Environmental protection =
The Department of the Environment administered environmental laws, including the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and a range of other Acts. It was also responsible for Australia's participation in a number of international environmental agreements.
= Islands administration =
The department administered areas of the Coral Sea Islands,{{cite web |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/marinereserves/coralsea/management.html |title=Coral Sea Commonwealth Marine Reserve – Management |work=environment.gov.au |access-date=12 October 2013}} Heard Island and the McDonald Islands,{{cite web |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/places/world/heard-mcdonald/information.html |title=Heard and McDonald Islands (HIMI) – World Heritage |work=environment.gov.au |access-date=12 October 2013}} and oversees certain policy areas in Norfolk Island{{cite web |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/norfolk/management/index.html |title=Norfolk Island National Park – Park Management |work=environment.gov.au |access-date=12 October 2013}} and Christmas Island.{{cite web |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/christmas/management/index.html |title=Christmas Island National Park – Park Management |work=environment.gov.au |access-date=12 October 2013}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.environment.gov.au/index.html}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20071129230958/http://www.environment.gov.au/about/ministers.html History of Australian Government Environment Ministers]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20101123045802/http://environment.gov.au/about/library/govtdepts.html Directory of Australian Environment Departments]
- [http://www.parksaustralia.gov.au Parks Australia]
- [http://australia.gov.au/ australia.gov.au]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Department of the Environment (Australia, 2013-16)}}
Category:2013 establishments in Australia