Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment


The Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment was an Australian Government department which operated from 1 February 2020 until 30 June 2022. It represented Australia's national interests in agriculture, water and the environment.
On 1 July 2022, the agriculture and water component became the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, while the environment component became the new Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
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Organisation, key people, functions

The Department represents Australia's national interests across agriculture, water and the environment.
The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment, Andrew Metcalfe, is responsible to the Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management, Murray Watt.
It is sometimes referred to by the acronym DAWE.

Functions

The department is responsible for the Commonwealth's regulation and oversight of:
It is also responsible for maintaining the Australian Heritage Database.

Food safety and biosecurity

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 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.
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, 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.

Portfolio agencies

Agencies that exist within the department include:

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. 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.