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| Minister for the Environment (New South Wales) | |
|---|---|
| Post | Minister for the Environment |
| Body | New South Wales |
| Incumbent | Penny Sharpe |
| Incumbentsince | 28 March 2023 |
| Style | The Honourable |
| Appointer | Governor of New South Wales |
| Nominator | Premier of New South Wales |
| Formation | 16 March 1971 |
| Inaugural | Clarrie Martin |
| Website | Government of New South Wales |
Minister for the Environment (New South Wales) is a ministerial position in the New South Wales Parliament responsible for administration of environmental protection, conservation, and public lands within the state of New South Wales. The portfolio interacts with agencies such as the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Environment Protection Authority (New South Wales), and the Office of Environment and Heritage while reporting to the Premier of New South Wales and being appointed by the Governor of New South Wales. The minister's remit overlaps with portfolios held by the Minister for Climate Change (New South Wales), the Minister for Planning (New South Wales), and the Minister for Lands and Property (New South Wales).
The minister oversees statutory responsibilities under instruments like the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974, and the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, and directs agencies including the Environment Protection Authority (New South Wales), the National Parks and Wildlife Service (New South Wales), and the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust. The portfolio represents New South Wales in intergovernmental forums such as the Council of Australian Governments and the Environment Ministers Meeting, liaises with federal bodies including the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water and the Australian Conservation Foundation, and negotiates with stakeholders like World Wide Fund for Nature and the Nature Conservation Council of NSW. The minister manages funding streams from the NSW Treasury for programs linked to Great Barrier Reef initiatives, heritage listings like Blue Mountains National Park, and biosafety actions involving the Australian Academy of Science.
The environment portfolio in New South Wales evolved from responsibilities once held by ministers for Local Government (New South Wales), Lands and Surveys (New South Wales), and Conservation (New South Wales), with an inaugural dedicated appointment in 1971 during the Askin Ministry and later reconfigurations under the Wran Ministry and Unsworth Ministry. Significant shifts occurred during the Greiner Ministry reforms of the 1980s and the establishment of the Environment Protection Authority (New South Wales) in the 1990s under the Fahey Ministry, followed by structural changes during the Carr Ministry and the Iemma Ministry. The portfolio expanded following national events such as the 1992 Earth Summit and the Kyoto Protocol ratification discussions, and was reshaped by state crises including the Black Summer bushfires (2019–20) and the Sydney water crisis reforms.
Notable holders include Clarrie Martin, John Hatton, Tony Kelly, Carmel Tebbutt, Pru Goward, Robyn Parker, Gabrielle Upton, Matt Kean, and Troy Grant; most recent incumbents served in ministries led by Bob Carr, Barry O'Farrell, Mike Baird, Gladys Berejiklian, Dominic Perrottet, and Chris Minns. Ministers have often transitioned between related portfolios such as Minister for Planning (NSW), Minister for Climate Change (New South Wales), and Attorney General of New South Wales while engaging with non-government actors like Australian Conservation Foundation, Bush Heritage Australia, and the Local Government NSW.
Administrative responsibilities are exercised through the Department of Planning and Environment (New South Wales), the Environment Protection Authority (New South Wales), the National Parks and Wildlife Service, and statutory bodies including the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust and the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust. The minister supervises executive directors, chief executives appointed under the Public Sector Employment and Management Act 2002, and coordinates with agencies such as the NSW Rural Fire Service, the NSW Department of Primary Industries, and the NSW Water Directorate for cross-portfolio issues. Advice and policy development involve consultation with research institutions like the University of Sydney, University of New South Wales, and the CSIRO.
Major initiatives have included establishment and management of national parks such as Kosciuszko National Park and Royal National Park, invasive species programs addressing threats like foxes in Australia and cane toad concerns, coastal protection measures around Bondi Beach and the Sydney Harbour, and biodiversity strategies aligned with the Convention on Biological Diversity. Climate adaptation programs following the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season and emissions reduction measures tied to Paris Agreement commitments have been pursued alongside urban greening projects in Greater Sydney and heritage conservation in the Blue Mountains. The minister has launched funding rounds for land conservation partnerships with organisations like Landcare Australia and Bush Heritage Australia and overseen compliance enforcement actions under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997.
The portfolio has faced criticism over approvals for developments in sensitive environments, including disputes involving the Hunter Valley, mining approvals tied to the Coal mining controversies in Australia, and controversies over iconic sites such as Katoomba. Environmental groups like the Australian Conservation Foundation and the Nature Conservation Council of NSW have clashed with ministers over perceived weakening of protections during the Baird Ministry and the Perrottet Ministry. Debates have arisen concerning water management disputes involving the Murray-Darling Basin Authority, heritage controversies in the Royal National Park, and perceived regulatory failures highlighted by incidents probed by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (New South Wales).
The minister operates under primary legislation including the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974, the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, and the Heritage Act 1977 (New South Wales), as well as regulations such as the Environmentally Hazardous Chemicals Act provisions and planning instruments administered by the NSW Land and Environment Court. Intergovernmental legal obligations interact with instruments like the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 at the federal level and international treaties such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
Category:New South Wales Government Category:Environment of New South Wales