The

Australian Government The Australian Government, also known as the Commonwealth Government, is the national government of Australia, a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Like other Westminster-style systems of government, the Australian Governmen ...

Department of Agriculture and Water Resources was a 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

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 ...

of the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, Daryl Quinlivan, was responsible to the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources,

The Hon. ''The Honourable'' (British English) or ''The Honorable'' (American English; see spelling differences) (abbreviation: ''Hon.'', ''Hon'ble'', or variations) is an honorific style that is used as a prefix before the names or titles of certain ...

David Littleproud David Kelly Littleproud (born 4 September 1976) is an Australian politician who has been the leader of the National Party since May 2022. He has represented the Queensland seat of Maranoa since the 2016 federal election and was a cabinet mini ...

. The Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources was

Senator A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

the Hon

Richard Colbeck Richard Mansell Colbeck (born 5 April 1958) is an Australian politician. He has been a Senator for Tasmania since 2018, representing the Liberal Party, and served a previous term in the Senate from 2002 to 2016. Colbeck served as the Minister ...

since August 2018. The Assistant Minister to the former Deputy Prime Minister

Barnaby Joyce Barnaby Thomas Gerard Joyce (born 17 April 1967) is an Australian politician who served as the 17th deputy prime minister of Australia under Malcolm Turnbull from 2016 to 2018 and under Scott Morrison from 2021 to 2022. He was the leader of the ...

was the Hon Luke Hartsuyker MP. Following the appointment of the Second Morrison Ministry in May 2019, Scott Morrison announced

's previous ministerial positions were separated, with

Bridget McKenzie Bridget McKenzie (born 27 December 1969) is an Australian politician. She is a member of the National Party and has been a Senator for Victoria since 2011. She has held ministerial office in the Turnbull and Morrison governments, also serving ...

Minister for Agriculture An agriculture ministry (also called an) agriculture department, agriculture board, agriculture council, or agriculture agency, or ministry of rural development) is a ministry charged with agriculture. The ministry is often headed by a minister ...

and Littleproud as

Minister for Water Resources The Australian Minister for the Environment and Water is a position which is currently held by Tanya Plibersek in the Albanese ministry since 1 June 2022, following the Australian federal election in 2022. In the Government of Australia, th ...

. The Department again changed to the

Department of Agriculture An agriculture ministry (also called an) agriculture department, agriculture board, agriculture council, or agriculture agency, or ministry of rural development) is a ministry charged with agriculture. The ministry is often headed by a minister ...

Overview

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 provide information about its operations and performances in each financial year, and reviews its progress towards its objectives. The department's Corporate Plan sets outs the department's eight strategic objectives. Those identified in the 2016–17 plan include: * 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 strives 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 employs 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 is organised into divisions to support work across a broad range of agricultural, biosecurity, fisheries and forestry and water management activities. The department is located in regional centres, rural communities and cities throughout Australia. Around 58 per cent of its Australian-based employees work outside Canberra, in capital cities and regional offices, major airports, mail centres, shipping ports, laboratories and abattoirs. Globally, the department works in Bangkok, Beijing, Brussels, Dubai, Jakarta, New Delhi, Rome, Seoul, Tokyo and Washington, to maintain relationships with Australia's trading partners and international organisations.

History

The department was formed by way of an administrative order issued on 21 September 2015, replacing the previous

, following the appointment of

Malcolm Turnbull Malcolm Bligh Turnbull (born 24 October 1954) is an Australian former politician and businessman who served as the 29th prime minister of Australia from 2015 to 2018. He held office as leader of the Liberal Party of Australia. Turnbull grad ...

Prime Minister of Australia The prime minister of Australia is the head of government of the Commonwealth of Australia. The prime minister heads the executive branch of the federal government of Australia and is also accountable to federal parliament under the princip ...

Preceding departments

Department of Markets and Migration The Department of Markets and Migration was an Australian government department that existed between January 1925 and January 1928. History The Department of Markets and Migration was created to bring together Commonwealth activities ...

(16 January 1925 – 19 January 1928) * Department of Markets (19 January 1928 – 10 December 1928) *

Department of Markets and Transport The Department of Markets and Transport was an Australian government department that existed between December 1928 and April 1930. History When the Department was abolished, it was split into the Department of Markets (II) and the De ...

(10 December 1928 – 21 April 1930) * Department of Markets (21 April 1930 – 13 April 1932) *

Department of Commerce The United States Department of Commerce is an executive department of the U.S. federal government concerned with creating the conditions for economic growth and opportunity. Among its tasks are gathering economic and demographic data for busi ...

(13 April 1932 – 22 December 1942) *

Department of Commerce and Agriculture The Department of Commerce and Agriculture was an Government of Australia, Australian government Government department, department that existed between December 1942 and January 1956. Scope Information about the department's functions ...

(22 December 1942 – 11 January 1956) * Department of Primary Industry (11 January 1956 – 2 June 1974) *

(12 June 1974 – 22 December 1975) * Department of Primary Industry (22 December 1975 – 24 July 1987) *

Department of Primary Industries and Energy The Department of Primary Industries and Energy was an Australian government department that existed between July 1987 and October 1998. Scope Information about the department's functions and/or government funding allocation could be ...

(24 July 1987 – 21 October 1998) * Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (21 October 1998 – 18 September 2013) *

(18 September 2013 – 21 September 2015)

Operational activities

The department provides 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 * 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 * manage Commonwealth fisheries in consultation and develop national approaches to sustainable management of the fishing industry * 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 * help primary industries and producers to adapt and respond to climate change * achieve social, economic and environmental benefits through water policy and resource management. The department takes 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 The department manages, coordinates and prepares for response actions to national priority pests, diseases and weeds, 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 is grounded in research and science, providing information and analysis on agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries, 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 collects and audits primary industry levies for marketing, research and development, animal and plant health, residue testing and emergency response. The department works in partnership and collaboration with its clients, stakeholders, governments and the community by engaging with those who have a vested interest in the way it does business. This engagement consists of: * public consultations on policy, program and operational proposals * industry forums * international delegations and international forums * work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities through the Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy.

References

External links