| Department overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 29 May 2019 [1] |
| Preceding Department | |
| Dissolved | 1 February 2020 [2] |
| Superseding agency | |
| Jurisdiction | Australia |
| Ministers responsible |
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| Department executive |
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| Child agencies |
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| Website | www.agriculture.gov.au |
The Australian Department of Agriculture was an Australian Government department in existence between May 2019 and February 2020, which was responsible for developing and implementing policies and programmes that contribute to strengthening Australia's primary industries, delivering better returns for primary producers at the farm gate, protecting Australia from animal and plant pests and diseases, and improving the health of Australia's rivers and freshwater ecosystems.
Following the appointment of the Second Morrison Ministry in May 2019, Scott Morrison announced David Littleproud's previous ministerial positions were separated, with Bridget McKenzie as Minister for Agriculture and Littleproud as Minister for Water Resources.
The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, Daryl Quinlivan, was responsible to the Minister for Agriculture, Bridget McKenzie and Minister for Water Resources, The Hon. David Littleproud MP . The Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources is Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck since August 2018. The Assistant Minister to the former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce is the Hon Luke Hartsuyker MP. [3]
By an administrative order issued on 5 December 2019 and effective from 1 February 2020 [2] , the department all functions of the department were merged with the environment functions of the Department of the Environment and Energy, to form the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. Secretary Daryl Quinlivan was sacked as a result of the merger. [4]
The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources' vision was to help drive a stronger Australian economy by building a more profitable, more resilient and more sustainable agriculture sector, and by supporting the sustainable and productive management and use of rivers and water resources.
The department's annual reports provided information about its operations and performances in each financial year, and reviews its progress towards its objectives.
The department's Corporate Plan set outs the department's eight strategic objectives. Those identified in the 2016–17 plan included: [5]
The department strove to build strong relationships and work with governments, industry, importers and exporters, natural resource managers, primary producers, consumers, research and development organisations, rural communities and travellers.
The department employed approximately 4000 full-time equivalent staff, including accountants, animal and meat inspectors, biosecurity officers, economists, information and communication technology (ICT) staff, policy officers, program administrators, researchers, scientists, survey staff and veterinary officers.[ citation needed ]
The corporate structure was organised into divisions to support work across a broad range of agricultural, biosecurity, fisheries and forestry and water management activities. [6]
The department was located in regional centres, rural communities and cities throughout Australia. [7] Around 58 per cent of its Australian-based employees worked outside Canberra, in capital cities and regional offices, major airports, mail centres, shipping ports, laboratories and abattoirs.
Globally, the department operated in Bangkok, Beijing, Brussels, Dubai, Jakarta, New Delhi, Rome, Seoul, Tokyo and Washington,[ citation needed ] to maintain relationships with Australia's trading partners and international organisations.
The department was formed by way of an administrative order issued on 29 May 2019, [1] replacing the previous Department of Agriculture & Water Resources, following the re-election of Scott Morrison as Prime Minister of Australia.
The department provided specialised policy advice to the Australian Government and delivers a range of policies and programs to:
The department took a risk-based approach to safeguarding Australia against animal and plant pests and diseases and helps importers and exporters to meet regulatory requirements by:
The department managed, coordinated and prepared for response actions to national priority pests, diseases and weeds, [16] including:
The department’s work was grounded in research and science, providing information and analysis on agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries, [17] including:
The department collected and audited primary industry levies for marketing, research and development, animal and plant health, residue testing and emergency response. [18]
The department worked in partnership and collaboration with its clients, stakeholders, governments and the community by engaging with those who had a vested interest in the way it dud business. This engagement consisted of:
The Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources was an Government department that existed between 2015 and 2019, which was responsible for developing and implementing policies and programs that contribute to strengthening Australia's primary industries, delivering better returns for primary producers at the farm gate, protecting Australia from animal and plant pests and diseases, and improving the health of Australia's rivers and freshwater ecosystems.
The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) was the Australian government agency responsible for enforcing Australian quarantine laws, as part of the Department of Agriculture.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry was a state sector organisation of New Zealand which dealt with matters relating to agriculture, forestry and biosecurity. It was commonly known by its acronym, "MAF".
The New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, a division of the New South Wales Government, is responsible for the administration and development for agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture, forestry, and biosecurity in New South Wales. The Department works to drive innovation in primary industries to improve resilience, productivity and sustainability, and to ensure risks are managed for natural resources, farming and food.
Biosecurity Australia is an arm of the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. It provides science-based quarantine assessments and policy advice to protect Australian agricultural industry, and to enhance Australia's access to international animal and plant related markets. Biosecurity Australia also provides policy advice to the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) concerning the importation of quarantine risk material to Australia. AQIS ultimately sets the rules concerning the imports, not Biosecurity Australia.
The post of Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management in the Government of Australia has been occupied by deputy Nationals leader David Littleproud since 6 February 2020. He was previously also the agriculture minister from December 2017 until May 2019.
The Minister of Agriculture is a ministerial portfolio in the government of New Zealand. It existed from 1889 until 2012, when the Ministry was merged into the larger Ministry of Primary Industries, and again from 2017 onwards as part of the Labour coalition government.
The Minister for Resources and Water is an Australian Government Cabinet position held by The Honourable Keith Pitt since 6 February 2020. The Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced in May 2019 that the Agriculture and Water Resources portfolios would be separated in the Cabinet reshuffle. Bridget McKenzie was appointed as Minister of Agriculture, and David Littleproud was appointed as Minister for Water Resources on May 2019, by the Governor-General.
The Department of Primary Industries was a government agency responsible for agriculture, biosecurity, fisheries, earth resources, energy and forestry policy and programs in the State of Victoria, Australia.
Biosecurity is monitored to protect plant and animal health in Australia, and to protect the agricultural economy. Biosecurity Australia, an arm of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, provides policy advice and assessment.
The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries is a department of the Queensland Government which aims to maximise the economic potential for Queensland's primary industries on a sustainable basis through strategic industrial development.
The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is the public service department of New Zealand charged with overseeing, managing and regulating the farming, fishing, food, animal welfare, biosecurity, and forestry sectors of New Zealand's primary industries. In December 2017, Agriculture, Food Safety and Biosecurity Minister Damien O'Connor announced that the Ministry of Primary Industries would be reorganised into four entities: Fisheries New Zealand, Forestry New Zealand, Biosecurity New Zealand and New Zealand Food Safety, existing within the one ministry.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) was an Australian government department that existed between 1998 and 2013, when it was renamed as the Department of Agriculture. DAFF's role was to develop and implement policies and programs that ensure Australia's agricultural, fisheries, food and forestry industries remained competitive, profitable and sustainable.
The Australian Government Department of Agriculture was a federal government department charged with the responsibility to develop and implement policies and programs that ensure Australia's agricultural, fisheries, food and forestry industries remain competitive, profitable and sustainable.
David Kelly Littleproud is an Australian politician who was elected deputy leader of the National Party in February 2020. He serves as Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management in the Morrison Government and has been a member of the House of Representatives since 2016, representing the Division of Maranoa.
The Department of the Environment and Energy (DEE) was an Australian government department in existence between 2016 and 2020.
The Invasive Species Council is an Australian environmental non-governmental organisation founded in 2002 to provide a specialist policy and advocacy focus on reducing the threat of invasive species that threaten the environment.
The Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment is an Australian Government department which commenced operation on 1 February 2020.
