Department of Agriculture (Australia, 2019–20)

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]

• building successful primary industries
• supporting agricultural communities
• expanding agricultural, fisheries and forestry exports
• sustaining natural resources for longer-term productive primary industries
• improving water use efficiency and the health of rivers, communities, environmental assets and production systems
• managing biosecurity and imported food risk
• building an efficient and capable department
• being a best practice regulator.

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.

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, 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:

• provide evidence-based support for government and industry decision-making
• help primary producers to gain and maintain access to overseas markets, including administration of export quotas[8]
• support primary producers and rural communities to be productive and sustainable through grants and other funding support, including drought assistance for farm families and businesses[9][10]
• manage Commonwealth fisheries in consultation and develop national approaches to sustainable management of the fishing industry[11]
• represent Australia’s interests overseas to promote responsible fishing practices and to combat illegal fishing.
• foster and enable productive, profitable, internationally competitive and sustainable Australian forest and forest products industries[12]
• help primary industries and producers to adapt and respond to climate change[13]
• achieve social, economic and environmental benefits through water policy and resource management.[14]

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:

• assessing and inspecting imported animal and plant products and machinery for diseases, pests and weeds
• setting conditions for imported animal and plant products
• issuing import and export permits and undertaking certification of goods
• ensuring compliance through audit, investigation and assurance activities
• accrediting third parties to undertake activities on its behalf
• reforming regulation and bureaucracy[15]

The department managed, coordinated and prepared for response actions to national priority pests, diseases and weeds,[16] including:

• appropriately trained personnel, procedures and practices
• preparation to act rapidly in response to an outbreak
• plans and coordinated response activities with other jurisdictions and industries
• preparation to manage a specific incident or offshore incursion.

The department’s work was grounded in research and science, providing information and analysis on agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries,[17] including:

• commodity forecasts
• economic analysis and modelling
• data and statistics on issues affecting Australian farmers and rural communities
• biophysical science for biosecurity risk assessment, forecasting and diagnostics.

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:

• public consultations on policy, program and operational proposals[19]
• industry forums
• international delegations and international forums
• work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities through the Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy.[20]

• Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics
• Australian Fisheries Management Authority
• List of Australian Commonwealth Government entities
• Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources
• Murray-Darling Basin Authority

• Department of Agriculture and Water Resources