Creation
The Department of Climate Change, Energy the Environment and Water was established under the Machinery of Government Change effective from 1 July 2022 after new Administrative Arrangement Orders were signed by the Governor General, David Hurley. The new department took over some of the responsibilities of the previous Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment and some from the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and resources.
Functions and activities
Matters dealt with by the Department
Environment protection and conservation of biodiversity
Air quality
Land contamination
Waste programs
Management of Industrial Chemicals
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
Water policy and resources
Environmental water use and resources relating to the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
National water infrastructure investment
Development and co-ordination of domestic
community and household climate action
Climate change adaptation strategy and co-ordination
Co-ordination of climate change science activities
Development and co-ordination of international climate change policy
International climate change negotiations
Greenhouse emissions and energy consumption reporting
Greenhouse gas abatement programmes
Energy policy
National energy market, including electricity, gas and liquid fuels
National fuel quality standards
Renewable energy
Renewable energy target policy, regulation and co-ordination
Renewable energy technology development
Industrial energy efficiency
Energy efficiency
Energy-specific international obligations and activities
In July 2022, the Australian Government appointed an independent panel to review the integrity of The Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) scheme. The Panel provided their Review report to the Government on 20 December 2022. The Government accepted all 16 recommendations of the Independent Review in principle and published an Implementation Plan setting out its planned timing and approach to implementing reforms. As part of the implementation, the Government moved method development functions and support provided to the Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee (ERAC) from the Clean Energy Regulator (CER) to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).
Legislation administered
Legislation administered by the Ministers
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984, except to the extent administered by the Attorney-General
Antarctic Marine Living Resources Conservation Act 1981
Antarctic Treaty Act 1960
Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) Act 1980
Australian Antarctic Territory Acceptance Act 1933
Australian Antarctic Territory Act 1954
Australian Energy Market Act 2004
Australian Heritage Council Act 2003
Australian Institute of Marine Science Act 1972
Australian National Registry of Emissions Units Act 2011
Australian Renewable Energy Agency Act 2011
Australian Renewable Energy Agency (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2011
Building Energy Efficiency Disclosure Act 2010
Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011
Clean Energy (Consequential Amendments) Act 2011
Clean Energy Finance Corporation Act 2012
Clean Energy Regulator Act 2011
Climate Change Authority Act 2011
Competition and Consumer Act 2010, Part IIIAA
Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000
Fuel Security Act 2021
Fuel Security (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2021
Environment Protection (Alligator Rivers Region) Act 1978
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (Environmental Management Charge—Excise) Act 1993
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (Environmental Management Charge—General) Act 1993
Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Act 2012
Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (Registration Fees) Act 2012
Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989
Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Levy Act 2017
Heard Island and McDonald Islands Act 1953
Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management (Register) Act 2021
Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management (Register) Charge (Customs) Act 2021
Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management (Register) Charge (Excise) Act 2021
Industrial Chemicals Environmental Management (Register) Charge (General) Act 2021
Lake Eyre Basin Intergovernmental Agreement Act 2001
Liquid Fuel Emergency Act 1984
Meteorology Act 1955
Moomba-Sydney Pipeline System Sale Act 1994, except to the extent administered by the Minister responsible for Finance
National Environment Protection Council Act 1994
National Environment Protection Measures (Implementation) Act 1998
Natural Heritage Trust of Australia Act 1997
Natural Resources Management (Financial Assistance) Act 1992, section 25(1)
National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007
Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Act 2021
Offshore Electricity Infrastructure (Regulatory Levies) Act 2021
Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Import Levy) Act 1995
Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Import Levy) (Transitional Provisions) Act 2014
Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989
Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Manufacture Levy) Act 1995
Petroleum and Other Fuels Reporting Act 2017
Product Emissions Standards Act 2017
Product Emissions Standards (Customs) Charges Act 2017
Product Emissions Standards (Excise) Charges Act 2017
Product Stewardship (Oil) Act 2000
Recycling and Waste Reduction Act 2020
Recycling and Waste Reduction (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2020
Recycling and Waste Reduction Charges (Customs) Act 2020
Recycling and Waste Reduction Charges (Excise) Act 2020
Recycling and Waste Reduction Charges (General) Act 2020
Removal of Prisoners (Territories) Act 1923, insofar as it relates to the Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands and the Australian Antarctic Territory
Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000
Renewable Energy (Electricity) (Large-scale Generation Shortfall Charge) Act 2000
Renewable Energy (Electricity) (Small-scale Technology Shortfall Charge) Act 2010
Sea Installations Act 1987
Sewerage Agreements Acts
Snowy Hydro Corporatisation Act 1997
Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation (Conversion into Public Company) Act 1989
Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation Limited Sale Act 1993
Sydney Harbour Federation Trust Act 2001
Underwater Cultural Heritage Act 2018
Underwater Cultural Heritage (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2018
Water Act 2007
Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Act 2005
Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (Registration Fees) Act 2013
Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area Conservation Act 1994
Administrative structure
Ministers
The Hon Chris Bowen - Minister for Climate Change and Energy
The Hon Tanya Plibersek - Minister for the Environment and Water
Senator the Hon Jenny McAllister - Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy
Secretary
Mr David Fredericks, PSM
Sources
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) (June 2023) Independent Review of Australian Carbon Credit Units - Implementation Plan June 2023, DCCEEW website