Department of Industry, Science and Resources
The Department of Industry, Science and Resources is a department of the Australian Government established on 1 July 2022. It is responsible for the publication of the government's "Critical Minerals Strategy 2023–2030".
History
Formerly known as the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, the Climate Change and Energy responsibilities were transferred to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water on 1 July 2022. DISR also took functions that were previously under the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.Governance and structure
The head of the department is the Secretary, announced as Meghan Quinn in August 2022. The Department is an Australian Public Service department, staffed by officials who are responsible to the ministers.The Chief Scientist for Australia has reported to the Minister for Science of the day since 1989.
Scope and responsibilities
As outlined in the Administrative Arrangements Order made on 13 May 2025, the department is responsible for a wide range of functions including:- Industry and manufacturing policy, excluding workplace relations and taxation matters
- Technology policy, development and diffusion and safe and responsible use
- Critical technology policy development and coordination of information and communications technology industry development
- Industrial research and development, and commercialisation
- Biotechnology, excluding gene technology regulation
- Enterprise improvement
- Business entry point management and business services coordination
- Provision of B2G and G2G authentication services
- Trade marks, plant breeders' rights and patents of inventions and designs
- Food and beverage processing industry policy
- Country of origin labelling
- Co-ordination of supply chain resilience policy
- Anti-dumping
- Weights and measures standards
- Civil space issues
- Analytical laboratory services
- Science policy
- Science engagement and awareness
- Collaborative research in science and technology
- Co-ordination of science research policy
- Commercialisation and utilisation of public sector research
- Mineral and energy resources, including oil and gas, extraction and upstream processing, remediation and decommissioning
- Administration of export controls on rough diamonds, uranium and thorium
- Mineral and energy resources research, science and technology
- Geoscience research and information services including geodesy, mapping, remote sensing, groundwater and spatial data co-ordination
- Radioactive waste management
- International science engagement
- Economy-wide digital policy and co-ordination
- Major projects facilitation
- Economic security and sovereign capability as it relates to Australian industry, science and resources
- Standards and conformance policy for domestically and internationally traded goods
Major publications and strategies
Following the publication of the department's "Critical Minerals Strategy 2023–2030" in June 2023, in November 2024, the Albanese government announced its "International Partnerships in Critical Minerals" program, to provide AU$40 million in grants across eight rare-earth mining projects.The Critical Minerals Office is responsible for publishing policies and other documents about critical minerals.