Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment

The Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE) is an Australian Government department which commenced operation on 1 February 2020. It represents Australia's national interests in agriculture, water and the environment.

Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment
Department overview
Formed1 February 2020 (2020-02-01)[1]
Preceding agencies
JurisdictionAustralia
Ministers responsible
Department executive
Websitewww.awe.gov.au

Organisation, key people, functions

The Department represents Australia's national interests across agriculture, water and the environment.[2]

The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment, Andrew Metcalfe AO,[3] is responsible to the Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management, The Hon. David Littleproud MP, the Minister for Resources and Water, The Hon. Keith Pitt MP and the Minister for the Environment, The Hon. Sussan Ley MP. The Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries is Senator the Hon Jonathon Duniam, and the Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management is the Trevor Evans MP.[4]

It is sometimes referred to by the acronym DAWE.[5][6]

Food safety and biosecurity
Further information: Food safety in Australia and Biosecurity in Australia

The Department is responsible for food safety in Australia. It works with industry and other Australian government agencies, in particular the Department of Health 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.[7]

Together with the Department of Health, the Department administers biosecurity in Australia. The Department administers relevant legislation at the Australian border, and imported food must meet Australia's biosecurity requirements (under the Biosecurity Act 2015), 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.[7][8]

History

Preceding departments - Agriculture

Preceding departments - Environment

Formation

The department was formed by way of an administrative order issued on 5 December 2019 and effective from 1 February 2020.[1] The new department took over all functions of the previous Department of Agriculture, and the environment functions of the previous Department of the Environment and Energy.[9]

See also

References
  1. "Administrative Arrangements Order - 5 December 2019" (PDF). Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Commonwealth of Australia. 5 December 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  2. "What we do". Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  3. Brown, Greg (5 December 2019). "Andrew Metcalfe: dumped by Tony Abbott, back six years on". The Australian. News Corp AU. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  4. "Ministers". Department of Agriculture, Water and the Enivronment. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  5. "National Indicative Aggregated Fire Extent Dataset v20200623 [search]". Open Data. Australian Government. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  6. "Dept. of Agriculture, Water and the Environment". Perth NRM. 22 April 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  7. "Food regulation and safety". Department of Agriculture. Australian Government. 4 November 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  8. "Imported Food Inspection Scheme". Department of Agriculture. Government of Australia. 4 February 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  9. Morrison, Scott. "Media Release: 5 December 2019 - New structure of Government Departments". Prime Minister of Australia. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
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