The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries is a department of the
Queensland Government
The Queensland Government is the democratic administrative authority of the Australian state of Queensland. The Government of Queensland, a parliamentary constitutional monarchy was formed in 1859 as prescribed in its Constitution, as amended f ...
which aims to maximise the economic potential for
Queensland
)
, nickname = Sunshine State
, image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, establishe ...
's
primary industries on a
sustainable basis through strategic industrial development. The section known as Biosecurity Queensland is responsible for
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 ...
matters within the state.
The department was formerly known (with varying responsibilities) as:
* Department of Agriculture (17 June 1887 – 1 January 1904)
* Department of Agriculture and Stock (1 January 1904 – 26 September 1963)
* Department of Primary Industries (26 September 1963–26 February1996)
* Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries and Forestry (26 February 1996 – 29 June 1998)
* Department of Primary Industries (29 June 1998 – 12 February 2004)
* Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (12 February 2004 – 25 March 2009)
* Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (25 March 2009 – 3 April 2012)
* Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (3 April 2012 – 16 February 2015)
after which it assumed its current identity Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
Functions
![Deanolis sublimbalis larva](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/47/Deanolis_sublimbalis_larva.jpg)
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry provides expertise and support that increases primary industries productivity, expands markets and assists with adaption to change.
It conducts research, policy advice, protects against pests and diseases, maintains
animal welfare standards, as well as managing fisheries.
History
The first functions of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry began in 1855 when a
sheep scab
''Psoroptes'' is a genus of mites, including the agents that cause psoroptic mange.
Psoroptic mange
''Psoroptes'' mites are responsible for causing psoroptic mange in various animals, leading to economic losses among farmers of cattle, sheep ...
inspector began work in the New South Wales colony of
Moreton Bay
Moreton Bay is a bay located on the eastern coast of Australia from central Brisbane, Queensland. It is one of Queensland's most important coastal resources. The waters of Moreton Bay are a popular destination for recreational anglers and are ...
. After Queensland's
Separation, livestock diseases were addressed through regulations administered by the Stock Branch in the Queensland Colonial Secretary's Office.
The Stock Branch was established by the Queensland chief inspector of stock
Patrick Robertson Gordon.
Biosecurity
The Biosecurity Queensland section is responsible for coordinating efforts to minimise the risks and effects of threatening pests and diseases.
Biosecurity Queensland is responsible for
weed management
Weed control is a type of pest control, which attempts to stop or reduce growth of weeds, especially noxious weeds, with the aim of reducing their competition with desired flora and fauna including domesticated plants and livestock, and in natu ...
in the state.
In 2009, Biosecurity Queensland was successful in its attempt to eradicate a
citrus canker
Citrus canker is a disease affecting ''Citrus'' species caused by the bacterium '' Xanthomonas'' (''X.axonopodis; X. campestris''). Infection causes lesions on the leaves, stems, and fruit of citrus trees, including lime, oranges, and grapefrui ...
outbreak in
Central Queensland
Central Queensland is an ambiguous geographical division of Queensland ( a state in Australia) that centres on the eastern coast, around the Tropic of Capricorn. Its major regional centre is Rockhampton. The region extends from the Capricorn Coas ...
.
The
Tree of Knowledge was successfully
cloned
Cloning is the process of producing individual organisms with identical or virtually identical DNA, either by natural or artificial means. In nature, some organisms produce clones through asexual reproduction. In the field of biotechnology, ...
in 2008 by workers at the former Department of Primary Industries.
The overarching federal legislation, ''
Biosecurity Act 2015
The ''Biosecurity Act 2015'' is an Act of the Parliament of Australia which manages biosecurity risks in Australia. It was enacted on 16 June 2015, after the Bill was passed with bipartisan support on 14 May 2015. It covers both agricultural ...
'', the state's ''
Biosecurity Act 2014
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 ...
'', and the ''Queensland Biosecurity Strategy 2018-2023''
govern and guide the department's responsibilities with regard 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 ...
.
Research
In 2009, Primary Industries and Fisheries (now Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) together with the
University of Queensland
, mottoeng = By means of knowledge and hard work
, established =
, endowment = A$224.3 million
, budget = A$2.1 billion
, type = Public research university
, chancellor = Peter Varghese
, vice_chancellor = Deborah Terry
, city = B ...
were granted federal funding to study how
methane emissions
Increasing methane emissions are a major contributor to the rising concentration of greenhouse gases in Earth's atmosphere, and are responsible for up to one-third of near-term global heating. During 2019, about 60% (360 million tons) of methane r ...
from cattle and sheep could be reduced.
Publications
From 1897 to 1921 the department published the ''
Queensland Agricultural Journal
The ''Queensland Agricultural Journal'' was a peer-reviewed scientific journal published by the Queensland Department of Primary Industries (formerly the Department of Agriculture and Stock). It was established in 1897, with William Alexander ...
''.
Notable staff
*
George Alexander Currie
Sir George Alexander Currie (13 August 18964 May 1984) was an agricultural scientist, university professor and administrator. He was born in Grange, Banffshire, Scotland on 13 August 1896.[Alexandre Arsène Girault
Alexandre Arsène Girault ( ; 9 January 1884 – 2 May 1941) was an American entomologist specializing in the study of chalcid wasps. An eccentric and controversial figure, Girault was also a prolific and dedicated entomologist. He published m ...]
, entomologist
*
Ernest James Goddard
Ernest James Goddard (20 February 1883 – 17 January 1948), was an Australian professor of biology.
Education
Ernest James Goddard was born on 20 February 1883 in Newcastle, New South Wales, one of six sons born to Alfred and Elizabeth Godda ...
, science coordinator
*
Bela "Bert" Grof
Bela "Bert" Grof (9 June 1921 –17 November 2011) was a Hungarian-born Australian agricultural researcher with contributions to grassland and forage research in the tropics.
Education and early professional life
Grof was born in Győr, Hungary ...
, agricultural researcher
*
Christopher Sheehy
Sir Christopher Sheehy OBE (25 December 1894 – 31 August 1960) was one of Queensland's and Australia's leading dairy industry administrators.
Early life, family background and education
Sheehy was born at Gympie, Queensland, the third of si ...
, dairy administrator
*
Lindsay Stuart Smith
Lindsay Stuart Smith (27 November 1917 – 12 September 1970) was an Australian Botany, botanist, Natural history, naturalist and Civil service, public servant.
Early years
Lindsay Smith was born in Bundaberg in Queensland and attended Bundaber ...
, botanist
See also
*
2007 Australian equine influenza outbreak
An outbreak of equine influenza (EI) in Australia was confirmed by the Department of Primary Industries (New South Wales) on 24 August 2007 in Sydney. Also known as "horse flu" and "A1 influenza", the rapid outbreak was of the Influenza A vir ...
*
Animal Research Institute, Yeerongpilly
The Animal Research Institute, Yeerongpilly (ARI) was a government science complex at Yeerongpilly, Queensland, Australia, serving the agricultural sector of Queensland. A number of the Animal Research Institute Buildings are heritage-listed, ...
*
List of common weeds of Queensland
There are a number of commonly occurring weeds or Invasive species, invasive plant species in Queensland, Australia. These plants typically produce large numbers of seeds, often excellent at surviving and reproducing in disturbed environments an ...
*
Queensland State Soils Collection
The Queensland State Soils Collection is a Queensland Government scientific collection based in Queensland, Australia. The collection is a component of the Queensland Government's response to the need to understand the properties of soil acros ...
References
External links
*
{{Government of Queensland
Agriculture and Fisheries
Agriculture in Queensland
Queensland
)
, nickname = Sunshine State
, image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, establishe ...
Queensland
)
, nickname = Sunshine State
, image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, establishe ...