Our portfolio
Below is information on the portfolio’s statutory authorities and bodies, associated companies and other portfolio bodies.
The agriculture, fisheries and forestry portfolio comprises:
- the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, including the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES)
- three prescribed agencies under the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997, which undertake regulatory roles:
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- Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA). AFMA’s objectives, functions and powers are set out in legislation. It is responsible for ensuring the sustainable use and cost-effective management of Commonwealth fisheries resources
- Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA). The APVMA is responsible for assessing and registering agricultural pesticides and veterinary medicines and for regulating them up to, and including, the point of retail sale
- Wheat Exports Australia (WEA). WEA was established on 1 July 2008 to manage the Wheat Export Accreditation Scheme, which regulates the export of bulk wheat from Australia.
- one statutory marketing authority, the Wine Australia Corporation, which is responsible for promoting and regulating Australian wine and brandy and providing information and analysis on the wine sector.
- six research and development corporations (RDCs):
- Cotton Research and Development Corporation
- Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
- Grains Research and Development Corporation
- Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation
- Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation
- Sugar Research and Development Corporation
- other statutory bodies:
- Statutory Fishing Rights Allocation Review Panel
- the fisheries joint authorities: Torres Strait Protected Zone Joint Authority, the Queensland Fisheries Joint Authority, Western Australia Fisheries Joint Authority and Northern Territory Fisheries Joint Authority
- Forest and Wood Products Council
- Natural Heritage Ministerial Board.
Note: Biosecurity Australia ceased to be a prescribed agency from 1 July 2009 and its activities were brought within the department.
Appointments to portfolio bodies
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has developed the Balance database to support the search for potential appointees to Australian Government bodies, particularly bodies within the Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry portfolio. Balance lists people with relevant skills, experience and expertise who are interested in being considered for these positions. Consistent with our obligations under the Privacy Act 1988, the database contains personal details, information on work experience, educational qualifications, interests and areas of expertise.
Advisory bodies
A number of statutory and non-statutory bodies provide independent advice or oversight on the department's policy, program and operational responsibilities. These bodies draw on industry stakeholders and other outside expertise to perform a range of roles, including overseeing development and implementation of national plans and strategies, monitoring performance, reviewing findings and decisions, and making recommendations on project funding.
- Two statutory advisory bodies are:
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- Australian Landcare Council (ALC)
- National Rural Advisory Council (NRAC)
These bodies are established under a specific statute and provide advice to the minister and the department. The ALC is a ministerial advisory body on Landcare and natural resource management. NRAC advises the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry on rural issues, including Exceptional Circumstances applications and extensions.
- Significant non-statutory bodies are:
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- Biosecurity Advisory Council
- Eminent Scientists Group
- Import Risk Analysis Appeals Panel
These bodies have advisory responsibilities either to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry or the Director of Animal and Plant Quarantine on a range of key portfolio issues.
- Other advisory bodies include the following:
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- Australian Animal Welfare Advisory Committee
- Product Safety and Integrity Committee
- Food Policy Working Group
- industry consultative committees
- Business policy consultative committees.
- Another non-statutory portfolio body is the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee, of which the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is a member
- There are also nine industry-owned companies. These companies provide marketing and R&D services for the benefit of the Australian egg, livestock, meat, pork, wool, dairy, forest, horticulture and wood industries. Their boards are accountable to their industry members through the Corporations Act 2001 and to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry through statutory funding agreements. The agreements entitle the companies to receive industry levies and matching funding for eligible research and development expenditure
- There are associated not-for-profit portfolio companies established under corporations law that receive funding from the Australian Government. They include: Animal Health Australia (AHA), Landcare Australia Limited, and Plant Health Australia (PHA). The Commonwealth is a shareholder in AHA and PHA.
Portfolio outcomes
The department and the portfolio agencies each have their own planned outcomes that contribute to the portfolio outcome:
More sustainable, profitable and competitive Australian agriculture, food, fisheries and forestry industries.
Our ministers
Senator the Hon Joe Ludwig, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, oversees the portfolio.
The Hon. Sid Sidebottom MP, Member for Braddon, has been appointed as the Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Standing councils
The department contributes to national approaches in agriculture, fisheries and forestry through the Standing Council on Primary Industries (SCoPI) and its standing committee, the Primary Industries Standing Committee.
SCoPI was launched in September 2011 as part of a new council system for the Council of Australian Governments.
SCoPI is the peak forum to:
- pursue and monitor priority issues of national significance affecting Australia’s primary production sectors which require a sustained and collaborative effort across jurisdictions; and
- address key areas of shared Commonwealth, state and territory responsibility and funding for Australia’s primary production sectors.
SCoPI’s priority issues are:
- reform of the national biosecurity system
- promoting the ongoing productivity and sustainability of the agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries
- undertaking coordinated action across jurisdictions to strengthen long-term food security.
SCoPI has subsumed parts of the two previous ministerial councils, the Primary Industries Ministerial Council and the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council.
05 Jun 2012