On 13 August 1992, the Minister for Primary Industries and Energy and the Minister for Resources announced changes to the operational and administrative arrangements for the Bureau of Mineral Resources (CA 218). The changes were seen as necessary to ensure that scientific
support for resources decisions was provided in the most efficient way.  

BMR functions were to be divided between two agencies which would be newly created within the Department of Primary Industries and Energy (DPIE).
 
The Australian Geological Survey Organisation (AGSO) (CA 7605) gained all BMR functions except those dealing with petroleum and minerals resources. Although it currently operates within DPIE, this may change.
 
In relation to the functions dealing with petroleum and mineral resources, the Joint Statement of 13 August 1992 announced:
 
 The resources currently allocated to petroleum and minerals within
 the BMR will be merged with the current Bureau of Rural Resources
 in DPIE to become the Australian Bureau of Agriculture and Resource
 Sciences (ABARS).  ABARS will include the National Resources     
 Information Centre (NRIC), which is currently operated jointly by
 BMR and BRR.
 
However, the change in relation to petroleum and minerals did not appear to eventuate at that time and a Joint Statement of the Ministers on 21 October 1992 announced instead "... the formation of the Bureau of Resource Sciences (BRS) within the Department of Primary Industries and Energy.  The BRS is being formed by merging the Bureau of Rural Resources (BRR) and the petroleum and mineral resources assessment functions of the former Bureau of Mineral Resources (BMR)."

The Administrative Arrangements Order of 21 October 1998 involved transfer of the matters relating to Resources to the newly formed Department of Industry, Science and Resources, CA 8617.  As a consequence, the Petroleum Resources Branch and the Mineral Resources and Energy Branch moved to the Australian Geological Survey Organisation.  Also, the National Residue Survey moved to the newly formed National Office of Food Safety.  The Bureau was renamed the Bureau of Rural Sciences (BRS) to reflect the restructure.  

The BRS's mission is 'to provide scientific assessments, analysis and advice to enable the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (AFFA) to achieve its vision'.  
 
Sources
 
Joint Statement of 13 August 1992 by the Minister for Primary Industries and Energy, the Hon Simon Crean MP and the Minister for Resources, the Hon Alan Griffiths MP on "New Arrangements for Bureau of Mineral Resources" (reference PIE92/73GR)
 
Joint Statement of 21 October 1992 by the Minister for Primary Industries and Energy, the Hon Simon Crean MP and the Minister for Resources, the Hon Alan Griffiths MP on "New Scientific Bureau to Support Resource Management" (reference DPIE 92/85J)

Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No. S 514, 22 October 1998

Introduction, Bureau of Rural Sciences online, 
  Historical agency addressEdmund Barton Building, cnr. Kings Avenue and Macquarie Street, Barton ACT

Previous agency unregistered

21 Oct 1992 : Bureau of Rural Resources (BRR)