The Department of the Environment was established on 9 October 1997 pursuant to the Administrative Arrangement Order of that date (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. GN 41, 15 October 1997).

The Department inherited all functions of the abolished Department of the Environment, Sport and Territories, excluding 

a) sport and recreation, which were gained by the Department of Industry, Science and Tourism; and 

b) matters relating to the administration of the Territories which were gained by the Department of Transport & Regional Development.  
The Department of the Environment retained the administration of the Australian Antarctic Territory and the Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands.

In the Administrative Arrangements Order of 9 October 1997 (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. GN 41, 15 October 1997)  matters relating to: 

. local government;
. planning and land management in the Australian Capital Territory; 
. the Constitutional development of the Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory; and,
. the administration of the Jervis Bay Territory, the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands, the Territory of Christmas Island, the Coral Sea Islands Territory, the Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands and the Commonwealth responsibilities of Norfolk Island

were gained by the Department of Transport and Regional Development. 

Matters dealt with by the Department were:

  Environment and conservation
  Meteorology
  Administration of the Australian Antarctic Territory, and
   the Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands.

Legislation administered by the Minister was listed as:

  Antarctic Marine Living Resources Conservation Act 1981
  Antarctic Mining Prohibition Act 1991
  Antarctic Treaty Act 1960
  Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) Act 1980
  Antarctic (Environment Protection) Legislation Amendment Act 1992
  Australian Antarctic Territory Acceptance Act 1933
  Australian Antarctic Territory Act 1954
  Australian Heritage Commission Act 1975
  Captains Flat (Abatement of Pollution) Agreement Act 1975
  Endangered Species Protection Act 1992
  Environment (Financial Assistance) Act 1977
  Environment Protection (Alligator Rivers Region) Act 1978
  Environment Protection (Impact of Proposals) Act 1974
  Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981
  Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975
  Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989
  Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports)
   Amendment Act 1996
  Heard Island and McDonald Islands Act 1953
  Koongarra Project Area Act 1981
  Meteorology Act 1955
  National Parkes and Wildlife Conservation Act 1975
  Ozone Protection Act 1989
  Ozone Protection (Licence Fees-Imports) Act 1995
  Ozone Protection (Licence Fees-Manufacture) Act 1995
  Removal of Prisoners (Territories) Act 1923, insofar as it
   relates to the Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
   and the Australian Antarctic Territory
  Sea Installations Act 1987
  Sea Installations Levy Act 1987
  States Grants (Nature Conservation) Act 1974
  Urban and Regional Development (Financial Assistance) Act 1974,
   insofar as it relates to national estate grants
  Whale Protection Act 1980
  Wildlife Protection (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1982
  World Heritage Properties Conservation Act 1983.

In the Administrative Arrangements Order of 21 October 1998, this department was abolished.

The Ministers of the Department have been:

9 October 1997 - 21 Oct 1998:   Senator the Hon Robert Hill  (CP 368)

Secretaries of the Department have been:

9 October 1997 - 21 Oct 1998:  Mr Roger Beale  (CP 621)

Sources
Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. GN 41, 15 October 1997
Commonwealth Government Directory, June 1997
Historical agency address
Tobruk House, Canberra City ACT
Legislation administered
Creation: Administrative Arrangements Order, 9 October 1997  (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. GN 41, 15 October 1997)
Abolition: Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. S 514, 22 October 1998