Department of the Environment and Heritage
DEH · Environment Australia
21 October 1998 – 30 January 2007
Previously Department of the Environment (1997–1998). Renamed Department of the Environment and Water Resources in 2007.
Department of State responsible for environment protection and biodiversity conservation, natural and built heritage, Antarctica and meteorology, and, through the Australian Greenhouse Office, greenhouse policy.
Names over time
- Department of the Arts, Sport, the Environment, Tourism and Territories1987–1991
- Department of the Arts, Sport, the Environment and Territories1991–1993
- Department of the Environment, Sport and Territories1993–1997
- Department of the Environment1997–1998
- Department of the Environment and Heritage1998–2007
- Department of the Environment and Water Resources2007
- Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts2007–2010
- Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities2010–2013
- Department of the Environment2013–2016
- Department of the Environment and Energy2016–2020
How it came into existence
Created by the Administrative Arrangements Order of 21 October 1998 as the successor to the Department of the Environment under a new name, apparently also taking built heritage matters from the Department of Communications and the Arts. It absorbed the National Oceans Office in about 2005.
- Environment protection
- Natural heritage
- Antarctica
- Meteorology
- Built heritage matters
The scope of the heritage functions taken from the arts portfolio in 1998 is not confirmed.
Changes during its life
- 21 October 1998Continued to use the name Environment Australia, adopted by its predecessor in 1997, before reverting to its formal name in the early 2000s.
- 2004The Australian Greenhouse Office was integrated into the department, keeping its name.
- Oceans policy implementation
- Regional marine planning
Year approximate; its work continued in the department's marine division.
- Indigenous heritage protection programs
- Oceans policy implementation
- Regional marine planning
How it ended
Renamed the Department of the Environment and Water Resources on 30 January 2007, when it took on national water policy.
- Environment protection
- Heritage
- Greenhouse policy
- Antarctica
- Meteorology
Main functions
- Environment protection and biodiversity conservation under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
- Natural and built heritage
- Natural Heritage Trust programs, jointly with the agriculture department
- Greenhouse policy through the Australian Greenhouse Office
- Antarctic program and the Australian Antarctic Territory
- Meteorology (Bureau of Meteorology)
- Marine and coastal policy
Bodies in this portfolio (3)
- Australian Heritage Commission 1975–2004
- Director of National Parks and Wildlife 1975–2000
- National Oceans Office 1999–2005
Lineage
Loading lineage…
Sources
Primary sources
- Administrative Arrangements Order of 26 November 2001 (sets it out)
- Administrative Arrangements Order of 21 September 2006, as amended to 30 January 2007 (took effect as it ended)
4 more Administrative Arrangements Orders set it out
- Administrative Arrangements Order of 18 December 2003 (sets it out)
- Administrative Arrangements Order of 26 October 2004 (sets it out)
- Administrative Arrangements Order of 16 December 2004 (sets it out)
- Administrative Arrangements Order of 21 September 2006 (sets it out)
Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.