The Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE) was an

Australian Government The Australian Government, also known as the Commonwealth Government, is the national government of Australia, a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Like other Westminster-style systems of government, the Australian Government ...

department which operated from 1 February 2020 until 30 June 2022. It represented Australia's national interests in agriculture, water and the environment. On 1 July 2022, the agriculture and water component became the

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry may refer to: * Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Australia) ** Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Queensland) The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries is a de ...

(DAFF), while the environment component became the new

Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) is a department of the Australian Government. The department was established on 1 July 2022, superseding the water and environment functions from the Department of Agri ...

Organisation, key people, functions

The Department represents Australia's national interests across agriculture, water and the environment. The

Secretary A secretary, administrative professional, administrative assistant, executive assistant, administrative officer, administrative support specialist, clerk, military assistant, management assistant, office secretary, or personal assistant is a ...

of the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment,

Andrew Metcalfe Andrew Edgar Francis Metcalfe, (born 1959) is a senior Australian public servant and policymaker currently appointed as the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Public Adminis ...

, is responsible to the

Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is an Australian Government cabinet position which is currently held by Murray Watt in the Albanese ministry since 1 June 2022, following the Australian federal election in 2022. In the Gov ...

, Murray Watt. It is sometimes referred to by the acronym DAWE.

Functions

The department is responsible for the Commonwealth's regulation and oversight of: * Agricultural, pastoral, fishing, food and forest industries * Soils and other natural resources * Rural adjustment and drought issues * Rural industries inspection and quarantine * Primary industries research including economic research * Commodity marketing, including export promotion and agribusiness * Commodity-specific international organisations and activities * Administration of international commodity agreements * Administration of export controls on agricultural, fisheries and forestry industries products *

Food security Food security speaks to the availability of food in a country (or geography) and the ability of individuals within that country (geography) to access, afford, and source adequate foodstuffs. According to the United Nations' Committee on World F ...

policy and programmes * Water policy and resources *

Biosecurity Biosecurity refers to measures aimed at preventing the introduction and/or spread of harmful organisms (e.g. viruses, bacteria, etc.) to animals and plants in order to minimize the risk of transmission of infectious disease. In agriculture, thes ...

, in relation to animals and plants * Environment protection and conservation of

biodiversity Biodiversity or biological diversity is the variety and variability of life on Earth. Biodiversity is a measure of variation at the genetic (''genetic variability''), species (''species diversity''), and ecosystem (''ecosystem diversity'') l ...

* Air quality * National fuel quality standards * Land contamination * Meteorology * Administration of the

Australian Antarctic Territory The Australian Antarctic Territory (AAT) is a part of East Antarctica claimed by Australia as an external territory. It is administered by the Australian Antarctic Division, an agency of the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Env ...

, and the

Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands The Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands (HIMI) is an Australian external territory comprising a volcanic group of mostly barren Antarctic islands, about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica. The group's overall size ...

* Natural, built and cultural heritage * Environmental information and research *

Ionospheric The ionosphere () is the ionized part of the upper atmosphere of Earth, from about to above sea level, a region that includes the thermosphere and parts of the mesosphere and exosphere. The ionosphere is ionized by solar radiation. It plays a ...

prediction * Co-ordination of sustainable communities policy * Urban environment * Environmental water use and resources relating to the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder It is also responsible for maintaining the

Australian Heritage Database The Australian Heritage Database is a searchable online database of heritage sites in Australia. It is maintained by the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment , in consultation with Australian Heritage Council. There are more than ...

Food safety and biosecurity

The department is responsible for

food safety in Australia Food safety in Australia concerns the production, distribution, preparation, and storage of food in Australia to prevent foodborne illness, also known as food safety. Food Standards Australia New Zealand is responsible for developing food standa ...

. It works with industry and other Australian government agencies, in particular the

Department of Health A health department or health ministry is a part of government which focuses on issues related to the general health of the citizenry. Subnational entities, such as states, counties and cities, often also operate a health department of their ow ...

and Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) to develop policy and food standards. Food standards are developed under the ''Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code'', administered by FSANZ and enforced by state and territory governments. Together with the

, the Department administers

biosecurity in Australia National biosecurity in Australia is governed and administered by two federal government departments, the Department of Health and thDepartment of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry The ''Biosecurity Act 2015'' (C'wealth) and related legislati ...

. The department administers relevant legislation at the Australian border, and imported food must meet Australia's biosecurity requirements (under the ''

Biosecurity Act 2015 The ''Biosecurity Act 2015'' is an Act of the Parliament of Australia which manages biosecurity risks in Australia. It was enacted on 16 June 2015, after the Bill was passed with bipartisan support on 14 May 2015. It covers both agricultural ...

''), as well as food safety requirements of the ''Imported Food Control Act 1992''. Labelling on imported food must comply the requirements, and is regulated under the Imported Food Inspection Scheme.

Portfolio agencies

Agencies that exist within the department include: *

Bureau of Meteorology The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM or BoM) is an executive agency of the Australian Government responsible for providing weather services to Australia and surrounding areas. It was established in 1906 under the Meteorology Act, and brought together ...

Director of National Parks Director of National Parks is a government-owned corporation of the Australian government responsible for the management of a portfolio of terrestrial and marine protected areas proclaimed under the ''Environment Protection and Biodiversity Cons ...

* Murray-Darling Basin Authority *

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park protects a large part of Australia's Great Barrier Reef from damaging activities. It is a vast multiple-use Marine Park which supports a wide range of uses, including commercial marine tourism, fishing, ports an ...

Authority * Sydney Harbour Federation Trust *

Australian Antarctic Division The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) is a division of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. The Division undertakes science programs and research projects to contribute to an understanding of Antarctica and the ...

* Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences *

Australian Fisheries Management Authority The Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) is the Australian Government agency responsible for the management and sustainable use of fisheries resources including combating illegal fishing activities in the Australian Fishing Zone that c ...

* Australian Pesticides & Veterinary Medicines Authority * Australia's Nature Hub *

National Landcare Program The Natural Heritage Trust (NHT), or National Heritage Trust Account was set up in 1997 by means of the ''Natural Heritage Trust of Australia Act 1997'', with the main objective of conserving the "natural capital infrastructure" of Australia. Mon ...

National Pollutant Inventory The National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) is a database of Australian pollution emissions managed by the Australian Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments. A condensed version of the information collected is available to the public via the NPI ...

*Physical Environment Analysis Network *Sustainable Development Goals *Forest and Wood Products Council * Regional Investment Corporation *

National Environmental Protection Council National may refer to: Common uses * Nation or country ** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen Places in the United States * National, Maryland, c ...

History

Preceding departments – Agriculture

Department of Markets and Migration The Department of Markets and Migration was an Australian government department that existed between January 1925 and January 1928. History The Department of Markets and Migration was created to bring together Commonwealth activities ...

(16 January 1925 – 19 January 1928) * Department of Markets (19 January 1928 – 10 December 1928) * Department of Markets and Transport (10 December 1928 – 21 April 1930) * Department of Markets (21 April 1930 – 13 April 1932) * Department of Commerce (13 April 1932 – 22 December 1942) *

Department of Commerce and Agriculture The Department of Commerce and Agriculture was an Government of Australia, Australian government Government department, department that existed between December 1942 and January 1956. Scope Information about the department's functions ...

(22 December 1942 – 11 January 1956) * Department of Primary Industry (11 January 1956 – 2 June 1974) * Department of Agriculture (12 June 1974 – 22 December 1975) * Department of Primary Industry (22 December 1975 – 24 July 1987) *

Department of Primary Industries and Energy The Department of Primary Industries and Energy was an Australian government department that existed between July 1987 and October 1998. Scope Information about the department's functions and/or government funding allocation could be ...

(24 July 1987 – 21 October 1998) *

(21 October 1998 – 18 September 2013) * Department of Agriculture (18 September 2013 – 21 September 2015) *

Department of Agriculture and Water Resources The Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources was a government department that existed between 2015 and 2019, which was responsible for developing and implementing policies and programs that contribute to strengthening ...

(21 September 2015 – 29 May 2019) * Department of Agriculture (29 May 2019 – 1 February 2020)

Preceding departments – Environment

Department of the Environment and Energy The Department of the Environment and Energy (DEE) was an Australian government department in existence between 2016 and 2020. The department was responsible for matters including environment protection and conservation of biodiversity as well ...

(19 July 2016 – 1 February 2020)

Formation

The department was formed by way of an administrative order issued on 5 December 2019 and effective from 1 February 2020. The new department took over all functions of the previous Department of Agriculture, and the environment functions of the previous

References

External links

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment
{{DEFAULTSORT:Department Of Agriculture, Water and the Environment Agriculture, Water and the Environment Agricultural organisations based in Australia

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

Fishing in Australia Agriculture ministries

2020 establishments in Australia Ministries established in 2020 Environment of Australia Energy in Australia Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry