Portfolio overview

At 30 June 2009, the agriculture, fisheries and forestry portfolio comprised:

• the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, consisting of the
  
  - Agricultural Productivity Division
  - Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics
  - Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service
  - Bureau of Rural Sciences
  - Climate Change Division
  - Corporate Finance Division
  - Corporate Policy Division
  - Corporate Services Division
  - Product Integrity, Animal and Plant Health Division
  - Sustainable Resource Management Division
  - Trade and Market Access Division
  - Quarantine and Biosecurity Policy Unit
  
  
• four prescribed agencies under the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997:
  - Biosecurity Australia
  - Australian Fisheries Management Authority
  - Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority
  - Wheat Exports Australia
  
  
• one statutory marketing authority:
  - Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation
  
  
• seven research and development corporations (cotton, fisheries, grains, grape and wine, rural industries, sugar, and Land & Water Australia).
  

Portfolio outcomes

The department and agencies within the portfolio share one planned portfolio outcome:

More sustainable, competitive and profitable Australian agriculture, food, fisheries and forestry industries.

Biosecurity Australia has its own outcome:

The maintenance and improvement of overseas market access, and the protection of the economy and the environment from the negative impacts of exotic pests and diseases, through policy advice and science-based risk assessments.

Each portfolio agency has one or more planned outcomes and outputs that contribute to the overall achievement of the portfolio outcome.

Reporting

This annual report concerns the department and Biosecurity Australia. The other prescribed agencies, statutory marketing and regulatory authorities and research and development corporations publish their own annual reports.

The National Residue Survey, a program operating within the Product Integrity, Animal and Plant Health Division, tables its annual report in parliament each year in accordance with section 10 of the National Residue Survey Administration Act 1992.

Responsible minister

The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry oversees the portfolio. This position is currently held by the Hon. Tony Burke MP.

Ministerial councils

Much of the department’s work is delivered through the Primary Industries Ministerial Council and the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council. The ministerial councils were established in 2001 by agreement between the Australian Government and state and territory governments. Each council has many subcommittees and working groups. Figure 2 shows the structure of the councils at 30 June 2009.

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