# Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation

The Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation is a department of the Queensland Government which is responsible for protecting the state's natural environment, developing the government's tourism, science and innovation strategy. The minister responsible for the department is Andrew Powell. The department provides administrative support for the Queensland Heritage Council and the Queensland Heritage Register.

## History

The Department of Environment and Heritage Protection was established in April 2012, as part of a series of changes to the machinery of government after the LNP's win at the 2012 election. The department took on most of the functions of the Department of Environment and Resource Management which was dissolved. In December 2017, it was renamed to the Department of Environment and Science. In December 2023, it was renamed to the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation. In November 2024, it was renamed to the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation.

## Ministers

Ministers for this department (and similar predecessors) include:
| Start | End | Minister | Title |
| 23 December 1980 | 4 August 1983 | Bill Hewitt | Minister for Environment, Valuation and Administrative Services |
| 5 August 1983 | 18 August 1983 | Col Miller | Minister for Environment, Valuation and Administrative Services |
| 19 August 1983 | 6 February 1986 | Martin Tenni | Minister for Environment, Valuation and Administrative Services |
| 6 February 1986 | 1 December 1986 | Brian Austin | Minister for Environment and Heritage |
| 25 November 1987 | 1 December 1987 | Kev Lingard | Minister for Health and Environment |
| 9 December 1987 | 19 January 1989 | Geoff Muntz | Minister for Environment, Conservation and Tourism |
| 19 January 1989 | 25 September 1989 | Geoff Muntz | Minister for Environment, Conservation and Forestry |
| 25 September 1989 | 7 December 1989 | Paul Clauson | Minister for Heritage and the Arts |
| 25 September 1989 | 7 December 1989 | Rob Borbidge | Minister for Tourism, Environment, Conservation and Forestry |
| 7 December 1989 | 24 September 1992 | Pat Comben | Minister for Environment and Heritage |
| 24 September 1992 | 31 July 1995 | Molly Robson | Minister for Environment and Heritage |
| 31 July 1995 | 19 February 1996 | Tom Barton | Minister for Environment and Heritage |
| 26 February 1996 | 26 June 1998 | Brian Littleproud | Minister for Environment |
| 29 June 1998 | 22 February 2001 | Rod Welford | Minister for Environment and Heritage |
| 22 February 2001 | 12 February 2004 | Dean Wells | Minister for Environment |
| 12 February 2004 | 25 August 2004 | John Mickel | Minister for Environment |
| 25 August 2004 | 13 September 2006 | Desley Boyle | Minister for Environment, Local Government, Planning and Women |
| 13 September 2006 | 1 September 2007 | Lindy Nelson-Carr | Minister for Environment and Multiculturalism |
| 21 February 2011 | 22 June 2011 | Kate Jones | Minister for Environment and Resource Management |
| 22 June 2011 | 26 March 2012 | Vicky Darling | Minister for Environment |
| 26 March 2012 | 3 April 2012 | Jeff Seeney | Minister for Environment |
| 3 April 2012 | 13 February 2015 | Andrew Powell | Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection |
| 2015 | 2017 | Steven Miles | Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection |
| 12 December 2017 | 11 November 2020 | Leeanne Enoch | Minister for Environment and Science and the Great Barrier Reef, Minister for Science and Minister for the Arts |
| 11 November 2020 | 18 May 2023 | Meaghan Scanlon | Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Minister for Science and Youth Affairs |
| 18 May 2023 | 28 October 2024 | Leanne Linard | Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Minister for Science and Minister for Multicultural Affairs |
| 1 November 2024 | Incumbent | Andrew Powell | Minister for the Environment and Tourism and Minister for Science and Innovation |