Girish Mahajan (Editor)

Department of Agriculture (Australia)

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Dissolved
  
21 September 2015

Employees
  
4,644 (at June 2014)

Jurisdiction
  
Australia

Formed
  
18 September 2013 (2013-09-18)

Preceding Department
  
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Superseding agency
  
Department of Agriculture and Water Resources

The Australian Government Department of Agriculture was a federal government department charged with the responsibility to develop and implement policies and programs that ensure Australia's agricultural, fisheries, food and forestry industries remain competitive, profitable and sustainable.

Contents

The head of the department was the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, initially Paul Grimes (until March 2015) and then Daryl Quinlivan. The Secretary was responsible to the Minister for Agriculture, the Hon. Barnaby Joyce MP.

Overview

Department of Agriculture policies and programs:

  • encourage and support sustainable natural resource use and management
  • protect the health and safety of plant and animal industries
  • enable industries to adapt to compete in a fast-changing international and economic environment
  • help improve market access and market performance for the agricultural and food sector
  • encourage and assist industries to adopt new technology and practices
  • assist primary producers and the food industry to develop business and marketing skills, and to be financially self-reliant.

    • History

    The department was formed by way of an administrative order issued on 18 September 2013 and replaced the functions previously performed by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

    Operational activities

    The department facilitated the development of self-reliant, profitable, competitive and sustainable Australian farm businesses and industries. Through consultation with industry, the department develops and implements policies and programs that help to assure product safety and integrity. Particular emphasis is placed on on-farm risk management that relates to food safety.

    References

    Department of Agriculture (Australia) Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA