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Department of Agriculture
Department overview
Formed	29 May 2019
Preceding Department	Department of Agriculture & Water Resources;
Dissolved	1 February 2020
Superseding Department	Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment;
Jurisdiction	Australia
Ministers responsible	David Littleproud, ; Minister for Water Resources; Bridget McKenzie, ; Minister for Agriculture; Richard Colbeck, ; Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources;
Department executive	Daryl Quinlivan, Secretary (2019–2020);
Child agencies	Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resources Economics and Sciences; Australian Fisheries Management Authority; Agricultural Minister's Forum; Agricultural Industry Advisory Council; Agricultural Senior Officials Committee; Australian Grape and Wine Authority; Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority; Cotton Research and Development Corporation; Fisheries Research and Development Corporation; Forest and Wood Products Council; Grains Research and Development Corporation; Indonesia-Australian Partnership on Food Security in the Red Meat and Cattle Sector; Murray-Darling Basin Authority; National Landcare Advisory Committee; National Rural Advisory Council; Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation;
Website	Official website

The Australian Department of Agriculture was an Australian Government department in existence between May 2019 and February 2020, which was responsible for developing and implementing policies and programmes 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.

Following the appointment of the Second Morrison Ministry in May 2019, Scott Morrison announced David Littleproud's previous ministerial positions were separated, with Bridget McKenzie as Minister for Agriculture and Littleproud as Minister for Water Resources.

The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, Daryl Quinlivan, was responsible to the Minister for Agriculture, Bridget McKenzie and Minister for Water Resources, the Hon David Littleproud MP. The Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources is Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck since August 2018. The Assistant Minister to the former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce is the Hon Luke Hartsuyker MP.^[3]

By an administrative order issued on 5 December 2019 and effective from 1 February 2020,^[2] the department all functions of the department were merged with the environment functions of the Department of the Environment and Energy, to form the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. Secretary Daryl Quinlivan was sacked as a result of the merger.^[4]

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 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.^{[citation needed]}

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,^{[citation needed]} to maintain relationships with Australia's trading partners and international organisations.

History

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.

Preceding departments

Department of Markets and Migration (16 January 1925 – 19 January 1928)
Department of Markets (19 January 1928 – 10 December 1928)
Department of Markets and Transport (10 December 1928 – 21 April 1930)
Department of Markets (21 April 1930 – 13 April 1932)
Department of Commerce (13 April 1932 – 22 December 1942)
Department of Commerce and Agriculture (22 December 1942 – 11 January 1956)
Department of Primary Industry (11 January 1956 – 2 June 1974)
Department of Agriculture (12 June 1974 – 22 December 1975)
Department of Primary Industry (22 December 1975 – 24 July 1987)
Department of Primary Industries and Energy (24 July 1987 – 21 October 1998)
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (21 October 1998 – 18 September 2013)
Department of Agriculture (18 September 2013 – 21 September 2015)
Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (21 September 2015 – 29 May 2019)

Operational activities

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]

References

^ ^a ^b "Administrative Order Arrangements" (PDF). Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
^ ^a ^b "Administrative Arrangements Order - 5 December 2019" (PDF). Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Commonwealth of Australia. 5 December 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
^ "Ministers". About us. Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, Australian Government. 30 September 2015. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
^ Morrison, Scott. "Media Release: 5 December 2019 - New structure of Government Departments". Prime Minister of Australia. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
^ Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (2016), Corporate Plan 2016–17 (PDF), Australian Government, archived from the original (PDF) on 19 October 2016
^ Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (2016), Organisational structure, Australian Government
^ Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (2016), Contact Us, Australian Government
^ Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (2016), Export quotas, Australian Government
^ Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (2016), Drought and rural assistance, Australian Government
^ Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (2016), Assistance, grants and tenders, Australian Government
^ Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (2016), Fisheries, Australian Government
^ Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (2016), Forestry, Australian Government
^ Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (2016), A change in climate, Australian Government
^ Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (2016), Water policy and resources, Australian Government
^ Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (2016), Regulatory reform, Australian Government
^ Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (2016), Emergency preparedness and outbreak response, Australian Government
^ Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (2016), ABARES, Australian Government
^ Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (2016), Levies, Australian Government
^ Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (2016), Public consultations, Australian Government
^ Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (2016), Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy (NAQS), Australian Government