Australia/Minister/Resources and Northern Australia
 Australia/Minister/Resources and Northern Australia  (Minister for Resources) | |
|---|---|
| Start | 1972 |
| Responsible for Resources, Water and Northern Australia | |
The Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia is an Australian Government Cabinet position held by Keith Pitt since 6 February 2020. The Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced in May 2019 that the Agriculture and Water Resources portfolios would be separated in the Cabinet reshuffle. The Water Resources portfolio was added into the Resources and Northern Australia portfolio within the Outer Ministry.
The minister was assisted by the Assistant Minister/Agriculture and Water Resources, Senator Richard Colbeck from August 2018 until 2019. Anne Ruston had previously served in the position from 21 September 2015 to 28 August 2018.
In the Government of Australia, the ministers administer this portfolio through the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources and Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, and its component bodies.
Mission and outcomes
Information about the department's functions and/or government funding allocation could be found in the Administrative Arrangements Orders, the annual Portfolio Budget Statements, in the department's annual reports and on the department's website.
At its creation, the department was responsible for:[1]
- Environment protection and conservation of biodiversity
- Air Quality
- National fuel quality standards
- Land contamination
- Meteorology
- Administration of the Australian Antarctic Territory and the Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
- Natural, built and movable cultural heritage
- Greenhouse policy coordination
- Environmental research
- Water policy and resources
In the Howard Government, the portfolio of Water Resources was assigned to the Environment Department; this was an Australian Public Service department, staffed by officials who were responsible to the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Malcolm Turnbull. The secretary of the department was David Borthwick.
List of ministers
The following individuals have been appointed as Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia, or any of its precedent titles:[2]
Office Holders on Wikispooks
| Name | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| Barnaby Joyce | 25 July 2017 | 27 October 2017 |
| Paul Keating | 21 October 1975 | 11 November 1975 |
