The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) was a government agency responsible for

agriculture Agriculture or farming is the practice of cultivating plants and livestock. Agriculture was the key development in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that enabled people to ...

biosecurity Biosecurity refers to measures aimed at preventing the introduction and/or spread of harmful organisms (e.g. viruses, bacteria, etc.) to animals and plants in order to minimize the risk of transmission of infectious disease. In agriculture, thes ...

fisheries Fishery can mean either the enterprise of raising or harvesting fish and other aquatic life; or more commonly, the site where such enterprise takes place ( a.k.a. fishing ground). Commercial fisheries include wild fisheries and fish farms, both ...

, earth resources,

energy In physics, energy (from Ancient Greek: ἐνέργεια, ''enérgeia'', “activity”) is the quantitative property that is transferred to a body or to a physical system, recognizable in the performance of work and in the form of heat a ...

and

forestry Forestry is the science and craft of creating, managing, planting, using, conserving and repairing forests, woodlands, and associated resources for human and environmental benefits. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands. Th ...

policy and programs in the Australian state of

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seychelle ...

from 2002 to 2013.

History

The Department of Primary Industries was established in 2002. It was formed from a split of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (1996–2002) into the

Department of Sustainability and Environment The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) was a state government department that managed water resources, climate change, bushfires, public land, forests and eco systems in the state of Victoria, Australia. It was created in 2002 whe ...

and the Department of Primary Industries. In 2012 DPI created the Game Council of Victoria to with the Bureau of Animal Welfare and organisations such as

Field and Game Australia Field & Game Australia (FGA) is an Australian non-government organization formed in 1958 for conservation, hunting and clay target shooting, and is based in Seymour, Victoria. FGA advocates for "sustainable utilisation" as the best way to co ...

to manage sustainable and responsible

hunting Hunting is the human activity, human practice of seeking, pursuing, capturing, or killing wildlife or feral animals. The most common reasons for humans to hunt are to harvest food (i.e. meat) and useful animal products (fur/hide (skin), hide, ...

in Victoria. The Department of Primary Industries was merged back with the Department of Sustainability and Environment to form the

Department of Environment and Primary Industries The Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI) was a state government department responsible for protecting the environment, boosting productivity in Victoria's food and fibre sector, management of natural resources and managing wate ...

in April 2013.Napthine announces DPI and DSE to merge
''Bendigo Advertiser'', 9 April 2013.

Responsibilities

DPI had primary responsibility for administering legislation governing agriculture,

animal welfare Animal welfare is the well-being of non-human animals. Formal standards of animal welfare vary between contexts, but are debated mostly by animal welfare groups, legislators, and academics. Animal welfare science uses measures such as longevity ...

, fisheries, hunting and energy and earth resources in Victoria. The department administered and responded to queries regarding 38 major Acts and was responsible for collecting fees under regulations for fishing licences, mining rights, and exploration licences. The department worked with energy companies, research partners, primary producers, mineral explorers and rural communities across Victoria, as well as other state and federal government departments, to address the major and emerging challenges in sustainability and productivity. DPI's core services included policy development; regulation and compliance; science, research and development; and

sustainable Specific definitions of sustainability are difficult to agree on and have varied in the literature and over time. The concept of sustainability can be used to guide decisions at the global, national, and individual levels (e.g. sustainable livin ...

practice change.

Structure

The department was led by a

Secretary A secretary, administrative professional, administrative assistant, executive assistant, administrative officer, administrative support specialist, clerk, military assistant, management assistant, office secretary, or personal assistant is a w ...

who was appointed by the

Premier of Victoria The premier of Victoria is the head of government in the Australian state of Victoria. The premier is appointed by the governor of Victoria, and is the leader of the political party able to secure a majority in the Victorian Legislative Assembly ...

. DPI supported two Ministerial portfolios, the Minister for Agriculture and Food Security the Hon Peter Walsh and the Minister for Energy and Resources, the Hon Nicholas Kotsiras. The department was structured into five broad groups around its key areas of responsibility: * Energy and Earth Resources Group * Agriculture Research and Development Group * Agriculture and Fisheries Services Group * Policy and Strategy Group * Business and Corporate Services Group The department also oversaw policy on responsible pet ownership in Victoria through its Bureau of Animal Welfare branch.

References

External links

* {{Official website, http://new.dpi.vic.gov.au/home Former government departments of Victoria (Australia) Government agencies established in 2002 2002 establishments in Australia Economic history of Victoria (Australia)