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Executive summary (continued)

The Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts portfolio overview

The Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts portfolio was led by two cabinet ministers. The Hon Peter Garrett AM MP was Minister for Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts. Senator the Hon Penny Wong was Minister for Water. Minister Wong was assisted in her water responsibilities by the Hon Dr Mike Kelly AM MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Water.

As at 30 June 2010 the portfolio comprised the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, 14 independent authorities (listed in the Organisation overview chart) and two non-general government sector entities (The Australia Business Arts Foundation Limited and the Bundanon Trust).

This annual report covers the performance of the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. Portfolio agencies and Commonwealth statutory authorities report separately to the parliament on their performance.

Department overview

DEWHA mission

Protecting and enhancing Australia's environment, heritage and culture.

Roles and functions

The department supported the ministers in their policy and statutory functions and developed and implemented national policy, programs and legislation to protect and conserve Australia's environment and heritage and to promote Australian arts and culture.

Matters dealt with by the department

• Environment protection and conservation of biodiversity
• Natural resource management
• Environmental research
• Air quality
• National fuel quality standards
• Hazardous wastes
• Administration of the Australian Antarctic Territory, and the Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
• Water policy and resources
• Cultural affairs, including support for the arts
• Natural, built, Indigenous and movable cultural heritage.

Structure of the department

The executive structure of the department and its portfolio agencies as at 30 June 2010 is summarised in the organisation overview chart. The department underwent significant reorganisation following implementation of the new outcome structure for the 2009-10 Budget, and again following the machinery of government changes on 8 March 2010.

As at 30 June 2010 the department comprised 18 divisions. Each division's roles and responsibilities are described at the beginning of relevant chapters of the report. The names and responsibilities of the department's deputy secretaries and first assistant secretaries are shown in the organisation chart.

The Secretary, Ms Robyn Kruk AM, had the following responsibilities:

• Chair - Senior Executive Management Group
• Chair - Executive Management Group
• Chair - Agencies Roundtable
• Chair - National Environment Protection Council.

A number of executive committees had oversight of the management of the department. The secretary and the four deputy secretaries made up the department's senior executive management team, which met weekly to provide key policy and management decision making. The Executive Management Group, chaired by the secretary, met fortnightly to monitor performance and review significant issues across the department and portfolio. The membership of the Executive Management Group is detailed in the Corporate Outcome chapter under Corporate governance.

The secretary also chaired an agencies roundtable that meets twice yearly in recognition of their direct responsibilities to the portfolio minister. The department has other key committees for directing aspects of its internal operations and policies. These are detailed in the Corporate Outcome chapter.

As at 30 June 2010:

Deputy Secretary, Mr Gerard Early PSM had responsibility for:

• Approvals and Wildlife Division
• Land and Coasts Division
• Parks Australia
• Marine Division
• Supervising Scientist Division
• Whale Conservation Division

And as a member of the following committees:

• Chair - Workforce Management Committee
• Chair - Budget Finance Strategy Committee
• Chair - Compliance Executive Committee
• Chair - International Steering Committee.

Deputy Secretary, Dr James Horne PSM had responsibility for:

• Water Efficiency Division
• Water Reform Division
• Water Governance Division

And as a member of the following committees:

• Chair - Information Management Committee
• Chair - COAG Water Reform Committee
• Chair - Murray-Darling Basin Officials Committee.

Deputy Secretary, Mr Mark Tucker had responsibility for:

• Coordinator General Division
• Chief Operating Officer Division
• Policy Coordination Division
• Environment Quality Division
• Australian Antarctic Division

And as a member of the following committees:

• Chair - Graduate Steering Committee
• Member Departmental Audit Committee.

Acting Deputy Secretary, Ms Sally Basser had responsibility for:

• Arts Division
• National Portrait Gallery
• Culture Division
• Heritage Division

And as a member of the following committees:

• Senior Executive Management Meeting
• Executive Management Group
• Change Management Team
• Workforce Management Committee
• Information Management Committee
• Risk Panel
• Graduate Steering Committee

Mr Malcolm Thompson, Deputy Secretary in DEWHA, transferred temporarily to the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency on 18 March 2010, following the machinery of government changes.

The department has offices in Canberra, Hobart and Darwin, and has representatives in many parts of regional Australia working on its natural resource management and arts programs.

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