Summary heading
Department of Environment [III], Central Office.
Creation
The Department of Environment [III] was established under the Administrative Arrangements Order of 18 September 2013 signed by the Governor General, Quentin Bryce.
Abolition
The Department of Environment [III] changed title to become The Department of the Environment and Energy (CA 9568) in accordance with Amendments to the Administrative Arrangement Order issued by General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Ret'd), Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia on 19 July 2016.
Functions and activities
The department was responsible for the following matters:
Administration of the Australian Antarctic Territory, and the Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Air quality
Climate change adaptation strategy and co-ordination
Community and household climate action
Co-ordination of climate change science activities
Co-ordination of sustainable communities policy
Development and co-ordination of domestic climate change policy
Energy Efficiency
Energy Policy
Energy-specific international obligations and activities
Environmental information and research
Environment protection and conservation of biodiversity
Environmental water use and resources relating to the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
Greenhouse emissions and energy consumption reporting
Greenhouse gas abatement programmes
Industrial energy efficiency
Ionospheric prediction
Land contamination
Meteorology
National Energy Market, including electricity, gas and liquid fuels
National fuel quality standards
Natural, built and cultural heritage
Renewable energy
Renewable energy target policy, regulation and co-ordination
Renewable energy technology development
Urban environment
Legislation administered
The department administered the following legislation:
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 Heritage Council Act 2003
Australian Renewable Energy Agency Act 2011
Australian Renewable Energy Agency (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2011
Captains Flat (Abatement of Pollution) Agreement Act 1975
Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Act 2011
Clean Energy Act 2011
Clean Energy (Charges—Customs) Act 2011
Clean Energy (Charges—Excise) Act 2011
Clean Energy (Unit Issue Charge—Auctions) Act 2011
Clean Energy (Unit Issue Charge—Fixed Charge) Act 2011
Clean Energy (Unit Shortfall Charge—General) Act 2011
Clean Energy Finance Corporation Act 2012
Clean Energy Regulator Act 2011
Climate Change Authority Act 2011
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Declared Commercial Fishing Activities) Act 2012
Environment Protection (Alligator Rivers Region) Act 1978
Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981
Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000
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
Hazardous Waste (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1989
Heard Island and McDonald Islands Act 1953
Hindmarsh Island Bridge Act 1997
Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976
Meteorology Act 1955
National Environment Protection Council Act 1994
National Environment Protection Measures (Implementation) Act 1998
National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007
Natural Heritage Trust of Australia Act 1997
Natural Resources Management (Financial Assistance) Act 1992, section 25(1)
Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act 1989
Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Import Levy) Act 1995
Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas (Manufacture Levy) Act 1995
Product Stewardship Act 2011
Product Stewardship (Oil) Act 2000
Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000
Renewable Energy (Electricity) (Large-scale Generation Shortfall Charge) Act 2000
Renewable Energy (Electricity) (Charge) Act 2000
Renewable Energy (Electricity) (Small-scale Technology Shortfall Charge) Act 2010
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
Sewerage Agreements Acts
Sydney Harbour Federation Trust Act 2001
Water Act 2007
Water Act 2007, Part 6
Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage Area Conservation Act 1994
Administrative structure
Minister
18 Sep 2013 - : Greg Hunt
Parliamentary Secretary
18 Sep 2013 - : Simon Birmingham
Departmental Secretary
18 Sep 2013 - : Gordon de Brouwer
Historical agency address
18 Sep 2013 - : John Gorton Building, King Edward Terrace, Parkes, ACT 2600
State/regional structure
Records created by the agency
Additional information
End notes
Sources