Department for Environment
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Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities
The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (DSEWPaC), formerly the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA), is a department of the Australian federal government and was established on 14 September 2010.
The stated aims of the department is to achieve the following: protection and conservation of the environment; to ensure that Australia benefits from meteorological and related sciences and services; and to see that Australia's interests in Antarctica are advanced. The Australian Government Department of Sustainablity, Environment, Water, Population and Communities develops and implements national policy, programs and legislation to protect and conserve Australia's environment and heritage.
The Minister leading the department since September 2010 is the Hon Tony Burke MP who is the Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Burke takes over the portfolio from Peter Garrett. Burke is assisted in this portfolio by Senator the Hon Don Farrell - Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water. The Secretary of the department is Ms Robyn Kruk AM.
The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities and the following executive agencies and statutory authorities form the Australian Government's Population, Communities, Environment and Water, portfolio.
Bureau of Meteorology
Director of National Parks
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
National Water Commission
Murray-Darling Basin Authority
The department manages a number of major programs. The most significant of those dealing with natural resource management come under the umbrella of the Natural Heritage Trust and the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality. Both the Trust and National Action Plan are administered jointly with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Divisions of the Department include the Australian Antarctic Division, Supervising Scientist Division, Heritage Division, Parks Australia, Policy and Communications, Australian Wildlife, Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, Australian Land and Coasts plus a number of executive agencies and statutory authorities;
Administrative Arrangements Order
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 movable cultural heritage
Environmental research
Water policy and resources
Ionospheric prediction
Co-ordination of sustainable communities policy
Population policy
Housing affordability
Built environment innovation
The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities administers environmental laws, including the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and a range of other Acts. It is also responsible for Australia's participation in a number of international environmental agreements.
The department also administers the Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and the McDonald Islands (through the Antarctic Division), and oversees certain policy areas in Norfolk Island and Christmas Island.
Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (New South Wales)
The Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (formerly Department of Environment and Conservation and Department of Environment and Climate Change) (DECC) is the peak environmental regulator in the state of New South Wales, Australia. DECC is a NSW Government Agency and was created in September 2003 from the merger of:
the Environment Protection Authority,
the National Parks and Wildlife Service,
the Botanic Gardens Trust, and
Resource NSW.
The Department was renamed in April 2007 as part of the merger of the former Department of Natural Resources and NSW Greenhouse Office with the Department of Environment and Conservation.
The department is responsible for:
management of flora and fauna
promotion of environmentally sustainable consumption and production
protection of the state's cultural heritage, particularly Aboriginal cultural heritage
regulation of air and water quality, noise, chemicals, radiation and waste disposal
The organisation has strong links with the Sydney Catchment Authority.
Department for Environment and Natural Resources (South Australia)
The Department for Environment and Natural Resources (previously called the Department for Environment and Heritage) is a department of the Government of South Australia . It is responsible for protecting, conserving and managing South Australia's natural environment, and cultural heritage.
Department of Environment and Conservation (Western Australia)
The Department of Environment and Conservation is a department of the Government of Western Australia that is responsible for implementing the state's conservation and environment legislation and regulations. It was formed on 1 July 2006 by the amalgamation of the Department of Environment and the Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM).
