The department was charged with responsibility for developing and implementing national policy, programs and legislation to protect and conserve Australia's environment and heritage.

[5] The head of the department was its Secretary, Gordon de Brouwer,[3] responsible to the Minister for the Environment, Josh Frydenberg.

[6] It absorbed the responsibilities of the former Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities[7] and climate change from the former Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education.

The department developed and implemented national policy, programs and legislation to protect and conserve Australia's environment and heritage.

Both the Trust and National Action Plan were administered jointly with the Department of Agriculture.