Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment


The Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment is an Australian Government department which commenced operation on 1 February 2020. It represents Australia's national interests in agriculture, water and the environment.

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, The Hon. David Littleproud, the Minister for Resources and Water, The Hon. Keith Pitt and the Minister for the Environment, The Hon. Sussan Ley. The Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries is Senator the Hon Jonathon Duniam, and the Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management is the Trevor Evans.
It is sometimes referred to by the acronym DAWE.

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.

History

Preceding departments - Agriculture

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.