Overview

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has resources for 2012-13 proposed at Budget of $1.2 billion to ensure that Australia’s agriculture, fishing, forestry and food-related industries are well-positioned to respond to challenges and opportunities.

Key Budget measures

Key budget measures are:

• Caring for our Country - funding of more than $500 million over five years, plus $200 million already received for Landcare, for the National Sustainable Agricultural Stream to be managed by DAFF; from a total allocation of $2.2 billion for five years from 2013-14
• building a sustainable biosecurity system - funding of a further $524.2 million. This is made up of $379.9 million over seven years for a new state-of-the-art post entry quarantine station; $124.5 million for risk response operations; $19.8 million over three years for biosecurity ICT infrastructure
• eradication programs for pests and diseases - $95.9 million over seven years

Major priorities

Major priorities for 2012-13 include:

• continuing to reform national drought programs from crisis-management to preparedness
• delivering the National Food Plan – the nation’s first strategic look at the long-term sustainability of food production
• building a sustainable biosecurity system – we will build on the successes already achieved to meet the challenges of the future in partnership with industry
• the continuous improvement of animal welfare domestically and overseas including completing the implementation of the new regulatory framework for Australian livestock exported for slaughter

Other priorities

Other priorities for 2012-13 include:

• the Carbon Farming Initiative – providing an economic incentive to support land managers to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• further implementing the export certification reform package
• implementing new illegal logging legislation once passed by parliament
• continuing Better Regulation of Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals reforms initiative
• reviewing policies and regulatory frameworks to achieve more profitable and sustainable fisheries
• improving the effectiveness of regional fisheries management organisations
• identifying and implementing reforms to the rural research and development system to support portfolio industries
• working closely with other agencies to maintain and increase access to global markets for Australia’s agriculture, fish, forest and food products