The Department of the Environment and Heritage (DEH) is a department of the Australian federal government. It is responsible for protecting and conserving Australia's natural environment and cultural heritage. The stated aims of the department is to achieve the following: protection and conservation of the environment; to ensure that Australia benefits from meteorological and related sciences and services; and to see that Australia's interests in Antarctica are advanced. The Minister leading the department in 2004 is Senator the Hon. Ian Campbell. Hon John Howard MP, Prime Minister of Australia and leader of the Liberal Party Hon Kim Beazley MP, Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Australian Labor Party The politics of Australia take place within the framework of parliamentary democracy. ... 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Ian Gordon Campbell (born 22 May 1959), Australian politician, has been a Liberal member of the Australian Senate since May 1990, representing Western Australia. ...

The department manages a number of major programs. The most significant of those dealing with natural resource management come under the umbrella of the Natural Heritage Trust and the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality. Both the Trust and National Action Plan are administered jointly with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

Divisions of the Department include the Australian Antarctic Division, Supervising Scientist Division, Heritage Division, Parks Australia, plus a number of executive agencies and statutory authorities. The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD), of the Australian Department of the Environment and Heritage, manages Australias four Antarctic stations, as well as Heard Island, as part of the Australian National Antarctic Research Expeditions. ...

The Department of the Environment and Heritage administers environmental laws, including the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and a range of other Acts. It is also responsible for Australia's participation in a number of international environmental agreements

See also: Protected areas of Australia Protected areas of Australia are maintained by the Department of the Environment and Heritage, with the exception of the Great Barrier Reef, which is managed by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, a body within the department. ...

External link

• Department of the Environment and Heritage website