[3] Its focus is the resources sector, maintaining a mining and petroleum regulatory role and incorporating the resources safety responsibilities from the former Department of Consumer and Employment Protection.
It also oversees the Geological Survey of Western Australia.
[3] The department operates the MINEDEX website, a continuously updated database containing information on mines, mineral deposits and prospects in Western Australia.
[4] The original Department of Mines was created on 1 January 1894 and ceased in that name on 1 July 1992 when it became the Department of Minerals and Energy.
[5] During the 1894 - 1992 era, the department was originally divided into branches: Before the change of 1992, the branches had become divisions: On 1 July 2001 Department of Minerals and Energy and the Department of Resources Development were merged to form the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources.