Department of the Environment and Energy

Department of the Environment and Energy
Department overview
Formed	19 July 2016
Preceding Department	Department of the Environment;
Dissolved	1 February 2020
Superseding agencies	Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment; Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources;
Jurisdiction	Commonwealth of Australia
Headquarters	John Gorton Building, King Edward Terrace, Parkes ACT 2600, Canberra, Australia
Ministers responsible	Sussan Ley, ; Minister for the Environment; Angus Taylor, ; Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction;
Department executive	Finn Pratt, Secretary;
Website	www.environment.gov.au

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 as energy policy. It was established in July 2016 by the Turnbull government after the 2016 federal election.^[1] Following the appointment of Scott Morrison as Prime Minister, Josh Frydenberg was elevated to Treasurer of Australia, whereby Frydenberg's previous ministerial positions were separated, with Melissa Price as Minister of the Environment and Angus Taylor as Minister for Energy. Price was reshuffled from her position in 2019, and was replaced by Sussan Ley.

By an administrative order issued on 5 December 2019 and effective from 1 February 2020,^[2] the environment functions of the department were merged with all functions of the Department of Agriculture, to form the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. The department's energy functions were transferred to the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources.^[3]

Scope

The Administrative Arrangements Orders listed the department's responsibilities as follows:^[4]^[5]

Administration of the Australian Antarctic Territory, and the Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Air quality
Climate change adaptation strategy and co-ordination
Community and household climate action
Co-ordination of climate change science activities
Co-ordination of sustainable communities policy
Development and co-ordination of domestic climate change policy
Energy efficiency
Energy policy
Environment protection and conservation of biodiversity
Environmental information and research
Environmental water use and resources relating to the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
Greenhouse emissions and energy consumption reporting
Greenhouse gas abatement programs
Industrial energy efficiency
Ionospheric prediction
Land contamination
Meteorology
National energy market, including electricity and gas
National fuel quality standards
Natural, built and cultural heritage
Renewable energy
Renewable energy target policy, regulation and co-ordination
Renewable energy technology development
Urban environment

The head of the department was its Secretary, Finn Pratt AO PSM, responsible to the Minister for the Environment and Energy, the Hon. Melissa Price MP until 2019, and then the Hon. Sussan Ley MP. The department was staffed by individuals from the Australian Public Service.

As of 2019^[update], the DEE website also hosted the Australasian Underwater Cultural Heritage Database (AUCHD), a searchable online database containing data about shipwrecks, aircraft and other cultural heritage artefacts which are or have been underwater. The AUCHD also served as the register of protected underwater cultural heritage for the Underwater Cultural Heritage Act 2018 (the UCH Act), providing a means whereby the public could submit notifications and permit applications required under the Act.^[6]

The website also hosted a number of other databases and applications in the areas of biodiversity, climate change, heritage, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), environmental protection, land and water, as well as photo galleries of Australian plants, and environmental and cultural heritage subjects.^[7]

^ Anderson, Stephanie (20 July 2016). "Election 2016: Malcolm Turnbull unveils ministry with Christopher Pyne, Greg Hunt on the move". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 24 August 2016.
^ "Administrative Arrangements Order - 5 December 2019" (PDF). Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Commonwealth of Australia. 5 December 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 February 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
^ Morrison, Scott. "Media Release: 5 December 2019 - New structure of Government Departments". Prime Minister of Australia. Commonwealth of Australia. Archived from the original on 14 December 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
^ Administrative Arrangements Order – amendment made 19 July 2016, Australian Government, archived from the original on 30 August 2016
^ Administrative Arrangements Order, Australian Government, archived from the original on 13 September 2016, retrieved 30 August 2016
^ "Australasian Underwater Cultural Heritage Database". Australian Government. Dept of the Environment and Energy. Archived from the original on 14 October 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
^ "Databases and applications". Australian Government. Dept of the Environment and Energy. Archived from the original on 16 October 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2019.