Minister for Climate Change and Energy

Minister for Climate Change and Energy
Commonwealth Coat of Arms
Flag of Australia
Incumbent
Chris Bowen
since 1 June 2022 (2022-06-01)
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
StyleThe Honourable
AppointerGovernor-General
on the advice of the prime minister
Inaugural holderRex Connor (as Minister for Minerals and Energy)
Formation19 December 1972 (1972-12-19)
Websiteminister.dcceew.gov.au/Bowen

The Minister for Climate Change and Energy is a portfolio in the Government of Australia. The current Minister is Chris Bowen.[1] The minister administers his or her portfolios through the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (established on 1 July 2022.[2]).

The portfolio is a federal ministerial portfolio responsible for the coordination and implementation of sustainable energy policies by the Australian Government. These policy areas include the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, the promotion of energy efficiency, as well as adaptations to climate change within domestic and international contexts. The post was first held by Rex Connor in 1972 as Minister for Minerals and Energy.

History

The precursor to the department was led by Secretary Blair Comley who reported to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Greg Combet. The Minister was assisted by the Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Mark Dreyfus. The Clean Energy Regulator was an associated statutory authority formed on 2 April 2012.

On 25 March 2013, the responsibility for Climate Change policy passed to the newly formed Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education, and the duties of the Ministry of Energy passed to the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism. Following the 2013 Australian federal election the responsibility for energy was shifted to the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science under the Abbott government.

After the 2016 Australian federal election, the responsibilities were passed to the Minister of the Environment and Energy under the Turnbull government.[3] Following the appointment of Scott Morrison as prime minister in August 2018, Josh Frydenberg was elevated to Treasurer of Australia, whereby Frydenberg's previous ministerial positions were separated, with Melissa Price as Minister of the Environment and Angus Taylor as Minister for Energy.

On 1 February 2020, An Administrative Arrangements Order (AAOs) was executed by the Australian Government. This order required small business and energy functions be passed to the renamed Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources.[4]

Objectives

The department deals with:[5]

  • Development and coordination of domestic and international climate change policy
  • International climate change negotiations
  • Design and implementation of emissions trading
  • Mandatory renewable energy target policy, regulation, and co-ordination
  • Greenhouse emissions and energy consumption reporting
  • Climate change adaptation strategy and co-ordination
  • Co-ordination of climate change science activities

List of energy ministers

The following individuals have been appointed as energy minister, or any of its precedent titles:[6]

Order Minister Party Prime Minister Title Term start Term end Term in office
1 Rex Connor Labor Whitlam Minister for Minerals and Energy 19 December 1972 14 October 1975 2 years, 299 days
2 Ken Wriedt 14 October 1975 11 November 1975 28 days
3 John Carrick   Liberal Fraser Minister for National Development and Energy 8 December 1979 11 March 1983 3 years, 93 days
4 Peter Walsh Labor Hawke Minister for Resources and Energy 11 March 1983 13 December 1984 1 year, 277 days
5 Gareth Evans 13 December 1984 24 July 1987 2 years, 223 days
6 John Kerin Minister for Primary Industries and Energy 24 July 1987 (1987-07-24) 4 June 1991 (1991-06-04) 3 years, 315 days
7 Simon Crean 4 June 1991 (1991-06-04) 20 December 1991 (1991-12-20) 2 years, 202 days
Keating 20 December 1991 (1991-12-20) 23 December 1993 (1993-12-23)
8 Bob Collins 23 December 1993 (1993-12-23) 11 March 1996 (1996-03-11) 2 years, 79 days
9 John Anderson National Howard 11 March 1996 (1996-03-11) 21 October 1998 (1998-10-21) 2 years, 224 days
Warwick Parer   Liberal Minister for Resources and Energy
10 Martin Ferguson Labor Rudd Minister for Resources and Energy 3 December 2007 24 June 2010 5 years, 89 days
Gillard 24 June 2010 22 March 2013
11 Gary Gray 22 March 2013 27 June 2013 180 days
Rudd 27 June 2013 18 September 2013
12 Josh Frydenberg Liberal Turnbull Minister for Resources, Energy and Northern Australia 21 September 2015 (2015-09-21) 18 February 2016 (2016-02-18) 2 years, 341 days
Minister for Resources and Energy 18 February 2016 (2016-02-18) 19 July 2016 (2016-07-19)
Minister for the Environment and Energy 19 July 2016 (2016-07-19) 28 August 2018 (2018-08-28)
13 Angus Taylor   Morrison Minister for Energy 28 August 2018 (2018-08-28) 29 May 2019 (2019-05-29) 3 years, 268 days
  Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction 29 May 2019 (2019-05-29) 8 October 2021 (2021-10-08)
  Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction 8 October 2021 (2021-10-08) 23 May 2022 (2022-05-23)
14 Chris Bowen Labor Albanese Minister for Climate Change and Energy 1 June 2022 (2022-06-01) incumbent 2 years, 201 days

List of ministers for climate change

The Minister for Climate Change is responsible for developing climate change (global warming) solutions, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, and promoting energy efficiency. The following individuals have been appointed to the post, or any of its precursor titles:[7][8]

Order Minister Party Prime Minister Title Term start Term end Term in office
1 Penny Wong   Labor Rudd Minister for Climate Change and Water 3 December 2007 (2007-12-03) 8 March 2010 (2010-03-08) 2 years, 285 days
Minister for Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Water 8 March 2010 (2010-03-08) 24 June 2010 (2010-06-24)
Gillard 24 June 2010 (2010-06-24) 14 September 2010 (2010-09-14)
2 Greg Combet Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency 14 September 2010 (2010-09-14) 1 July 2013 (2013-07-01) 2 years, 289 days
3 Mark Butler Rudd Minister for Climate Change 1 July 2013 (2013-07-01) 18 September 2013 (2013-09-18) 79 days
4 Chris Bowen Labor Albanese Minister for Climate Change and Energy 1 June 2022 (2022-06-01) Incumbent 2 years, 201 days

List of Assistant Ministers for Climate Change and Energy

The following individuals have been appointed as Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, or any of its precedent titles:[6]

Order Minister Party Prime Minister Title Term start Term end Term in office
1 Jenny McAllister Labor Albanese Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy 1 June 2022 (2022-06-01) 29 July 2024 (2024-07-29) 2 years, 58 days
2 Josh Wilson 29 July 2024 (2024-07-29) Incumbent 143 days

See also

References

  1. ^ "Press Conference - Parliament House, Canberra". Prime Minister of Australia. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  2. ^ "Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water". Directory. Australian Government. 1 July 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  3. ^ "Ministers".
  4. ^ "Administrative Arrangements Order made on 5 December 2019 with effect from 1 February 2020". Prime Minister and Cabinet. 1 February 2020.
  5. ^ "Administrative Arrangements Order" (PDF). Government of Australia. 25 January 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 July 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-27.
  6. ^ a b "Ministries and Cabinets". 43rd Parliamentary Handbook: Historical information on the Australian Parliament. Parliament of Australia. 2010. Archived from the original on 13 August 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
  7. ^ "Kevin Rudd announces new Cabinet ... in great detail". News Limited. 29 November 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2008.
  8. ^ "Second Rudd Ministry" (PDF). Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Commonwealth of Australia. 3 July 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2013.[permanent dead link‍]