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| Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment | |
|---|---|
| Agency name | Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment |
| Formed | 1 February 2020 |
| Preceding1 | Department of Agriculture |
| Preceding2 | Department of the Environment and Energy |
| Dissolved | 30 June 2022 |
| Jurisdiction | Commonwealth of Australia |
| Headquarters | Canberra |
| Minister1 name | David Littleproud |
| Chief1 name | Andrew Metcalfe |
Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment was an Australian federal executive agency responsible for policy, regulation and program delivery in areas spanning primary industries, biosecurity, freshwater resources and environmental protection. Formed by administrative rearrangement in 2020, it combined functions formerly held by separate departments to create a single portfolio charged with interfacing with national agencies, state and territory counterparts, and international bodies. The department operated during the Morrison and early Albanese administrations and engaged with stakeholders across agriculture, Indigenous affairs, conservation and international trade.
The department was established on 1 February 2020 during the prime ministership of Scott Morrison following an administrative order that merged functions from the former Department of Agriculture and Department of the Environment and Energy. Its formation intersected with debates involving figures such as Barnaby Joyce, David Littleproud, and senior public servants including Philip Lowe-era Reserve Bank discussions on rural finance. The department operated through major events including the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season aftermath, the COVID-19 pandemic, and international negotiations like the World Trade Organization talks and bilateral engagements with China and Japan. It was succeeded by restructured arrangements announced by the Anthony Albanese government in mid-2022 as part of a broader machinery-of-government change.
The department’s remit encompassed agricultural productivity and biosecurity, water resource management including the Murray–Darling Basin Plan, and environmental protection involving species and heritage listings under laws such as the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. It interfaced with international frameworks like the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in representing Australia's positions. Responsibilities extended to trade facilitation with partners including United States, European Union, India, Indonesia, and New Zealand, and to emergency responses for biosecurity incursions such as those guarded against by the Department of Home Affairs and state biosecurity agencies.
Leadership comprised a Secretary reporting to the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources and Minister for the Environment, while divisions aligned to portfolios including biosecurity, farm business and export, water policy, and environmental protection. The central office in Canberra coordinated regional offices across states such as New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory. The department collaborated with statutory authorities including the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, and research bodies such as CSIRO and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation.
Portfolio entities reporting to or working with the department included the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, the Murray–Darling Basin Authority, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency for intersecting projects, and the Australian Bureau of Statistics for agricultural data collection. Other linked bodies included the Agriculture Victoria-style state departments, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, the Tropical Savannas CRC-affiliated centres, and universities such as the University of Sydney, University of Melbourne, and Charles Darwin University through research partnerships.
Key programs encompassed drought relief and farm support schemes implemented alongside treasury measures from Josh Frydenberg's fiscal packages, export market access initiatives, biosecurity surveillance programs, invasive species control projects linked to the Invasive Species Council advocacy, and water recovery measures under the Murray–Darling Basin Plan. Environmental initiatives included threatened species recovery plans for taxa listed under the EPBC Act and reef protection actions in coordination with the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and state reef agencies.
The department administered and advised on major instruments including the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, biosecurity legislation, water frameworks tied to the Water Act 2007 (Cth), and agricultural export controls. It provided policy input to intergovernmental forums such as the Council of Australian Governments and participated in international trade negotiations under auspices such as the World Trade Organization and bilateral free trade agreements with China, Japan, and CPTPP partners.
Funding derived from the federal budget appropriations negotiated in annual processes presented by the Treasurer (Jim Chalmers under the Albanese government and Josh Frydenberg under Morrison), with allocations for biosecurity, drought response, water infrastructure funding including projects in the Murray–Darling Basin and environmental programs such as reef protection. The department administered grants to states, research institutions like CSIRO and universities, and industry bodies including the National Farmers' Federation for co-funded initiatives.
The department faced criticism over perceived failures in implementing the Murray–Darling Basin Plan and controversies surrounding water buybacks, attracting scrutiny from stakeholders including the Australian Conservation Foundation and farmers represented by the National Farmers' Federation. Its environmental approvals under the EPBC Act drew complaints from conservation groups such as WWF-Australia and legal challenges in courts including the Federal Court of Australia. Biosecurity responses and agricultural policy during the COVID-19 pandemic prompted debate with state ministers like Gladys Berejiklian and industry leaders in commodity sectors such as wool, beef and horticulture.
Category:Defunct Australian government departments