Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment
Department overview
Formed	1 February 2020
Preceding agencies	Department of Agriculture; Department of the Environment and Energy;
Dissolved	1 July 2022
Superseding agencies	Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry; Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water;
Jurisdiction	Australia
Employees	6,221 (2021)
Annual budget	A$4.461 billion (2021)
Ministers responsible	Murray Watt, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Minister for Emergency Management; Madeleine King, Minister for Resources and Minister for Northern Australia; Tanya Plibersek, Minister for the Environment and Water;
Department executive	Andrew Metcalfe AO, Secretary (2020–2022);
Website	www.awe.gov.au
Footnotes

The Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE) was an Australian Government department which operated from 1 February 2020 until 30 June 2022. It represented Australia's national interests in agriculture, water and the environment.

On 1 July 2022, the agriculture and water component became the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), while the environment component became the new Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.^[3]^[4]

Organisation, key people, functions

The Department represents Australia's national interests across agriculture, water and the environment.^[5]

The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment, Andrew Metcalfe AO,^[6] is responsible to the Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management, Murray Watt.^[7]

It is sometimes referred to by the acronym DAWE.^[8]^[9]

Functions

The department is responsible for the Commonwealth's regulation and oversight of:

Agricultural, pastoral, fishing, food and forest industries
Soils and other natural resources
Rural adjustment and drought issues
Rural industries inspection and quarantine
Primary industries research including economic research
Commodity marketing, including export promotion and agribusiness
Commodity-specific international organisations and activities
Administration of international commodity agreements
Administration of export controls on agricultural, fisheries and forestry industries products
Food security policy and programmes
Water policy and resources
Biosecurity, in relation to animals and plants
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 Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Natural, built and cultural heritage
Environmental information and research
Ionospheric prediction
Co-ordination of sustainable communities policy
Urban environment
Environmental water use and resources relating to the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder^[10]^[11]

It is also responsible for maintaining the Australian Heritage Database.^[12]

Food safety and biosecurity

The department is responsible for food safety in Australia. It works with industry and other Australian government agencies, in particular the Department of Health and Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) to develop policy and food standards. Food standards are developed under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, administered by FSANZ and enforced by state and territory governments.^[13]

Together with the Department of Health, the Department administers biosecurity in Australia. The department administers relevant legislation at the Australian border, and imported food must meet Australia's biosecurity requirements (under the Biosecurity Act 2015), as well as food safety requirements of the Imported Food Control Act 1992. Labelling on imported food must comply the requirements, and is regulated under the Imported Food Inspection Scheme.^[13]^[14]

Portfolio agencies

Agencies that exist within the department include:

Bureau of Meteorology
Director of National Parks
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Sydney Harbour Federation Trust
Australian Antarctic Division
Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences
Australian Fisheries Management Authority
Australian Pesticides & Veterinary Medicines Authority
Australia's Nature Hub
National Landcare Program
National Pollutant Inventory
Physical Environment Analysis Network
Sustainable Development Goals
Forest and Wood Products Council
Regional Investment Corporation
National Environmental Protection Council^[15]^[16]^[17]

History

Preceding departments – Agriculture

Department of Markets and Migration (16 January 1925 – 19 January 1928)
Department of Markets (19 January 1928 – 10 December 1928)
Department of Markets and Transport (10 December 1928 – 21 April 1930)
Department of Markets (21 April 1930 – 13 April 1932)
Department of Commerce (13 April 1932 – 22 December 1942)
Department of Commerce and Agriculture (22 December 1942 – 11 January 1956)
Department of Primary Industry (11 January 1956 – 2 June 1974)
Department of Agriculture (12 June 1974 – 22 December 1975)
Department of Primary Industry (22 December 1975 – 24 July 1987)
Department of Primary Industries and Energy (24 July 1987 – 21 October 1998)
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (21 October 1998 – 18 September 2013)
Department of Agriculture (18 September 2013 – 21 September 2015)
Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (21 September 2015 – 29 May 2019)
Department of Agriculture (29 May 2019 – 1 February 2020)

Preceding departments – Environment

Department of the Environment and Energy (19 July 2016 – 1 February 2020)

Formation

The department was formed by way of an administrative order issued on 5 December 2019 and effective from 1 February 2020.^[1] The new department took over all functions of the previous Department of Agriculture, and the environment functions of the previous Department of the Environment and Energy.^[18]

References

^ ^a ^b "Administrative Arrangements Order - 5 December 2019" (PDF). Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Commonwealth of Australia. 5 December 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
^ directory.user (25 May 2017). "Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment". www.directory.gov.au. Retrieved 12 August 2021. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
^ The government has announced Machinery of Government changes that affect this department, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, 1 July 2022
^ Albanese government restores abolished environment department but avoids major public service overhaul, ABC News, 2 June 2022
^ "What we do". Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
^ Brown, Greg (5 December 2019). "Andrew Metcalfe: dumped by Tony Abbott, back six years on". The Australian. News Corp AU. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
^ "Ministers". Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
^ "National Indicative Aggregated Fire Extent Dataset v20200623 [search]". Open Data. Australian Government. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
^ "Dept. of Agriculture, Water and the Environment". Perth NRM. 22 April 2020. Archived from the original on 23 February 2022. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
^ "Administrative Arrangements Order made on 5 December 2019 with effect from 1 February 2020". www.pmc.gov.au. Archived from the original on 3 February 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
^ "Our responsibilities and legislation | Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment". www.awe.gov.au. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
^ "Australian Heritage Database". Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. Australian Government. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
^ ^a ^b "Food regulation and safety". Department of Agriculture. Australian Government. 4 November 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
^ "Imported Food Inspection Scheme". Department of Agriculture. Government of Australia. 4 February 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
^ "Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment". Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
^ "DAWE Organisational Chart May 2021" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
^ "Our portfolio | Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment". www.awe.gov.au. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
^ Morrison, Scott. "Media Release: 5 December 2019 - New structure of Government Departments". Prime Minister of Australia. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 3 February 2020.

External links