Department of Science and the Environment
5 December 1978 – 3 November 1980
Previously Department of Science (1975–1978). Renamed Department of Science and Technology in 1980.
Department of State responsible for science policy and Commonwealth scientific agencies, meteorology and Antarctic matters, together with environment protection, nature conservation, national parks and the national estate.
Names over time
- Department of Science1975–1978
- Department of Science and the Environment1978–1980
- Department of Science and Technology1980–1984
- Department of Science1984–1987
How it came into existence
Created by the Administrative Arrangements Order of 5 December 1978, when the Department of Science took over the environment, conservation and national estate functions of the abolished Department of Environment, Housing and Community Development. James Webster was Minister for Science and the Environment.
- Science policy and scientific agencies
- Meteorology
- Antarctic research
- Environment protection and conservation
- National parks and wildlife
- National estate
How it ended
Abolished on 3 November 1980: science passed to the new Department of Science and Technology and the environment to the new Department of Home Affairs and Environment.
- Environment protection and conservation
- National parks and wildlife
- National estate
- Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
- Environmental supervision of the Alligator Rivers Region
- Science policy and scientific agencies
- Meteorology
- Antarctic research
Main functions
- Science policy and support for CSIRO
- Meteorology (Bureau of Meteorology)
- Antarctic research and administration of the Australian Antarctic Territory
- Environment protection and environmental impact assessment
- National parks and wildlife (Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service)
- National estate (Australian Heritage Commission)
- Great Barrier Reef Marine Park
- Environmental supervision of uranium mining in the Alligator Rivers Region
Lineage
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