Portfolio Overview

MINISTER AND PORTFOLIO RESPONSIBILITIES

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry portfolio aims to advance the interests of Australia’s agriculture, food, fisheries and forest industries in ways that protect and enhance Australia’s natural resource assets. The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and
Forestry provides policy leadership for the broad range of portfolio activities.

All 14 portfolio agencies, including the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, work towards the common goal of ensuring Australian agricultural, fisheries, food and forestry industries are based on sustainable management of and access to natural resources, are more competitive, self-reliant and innovative, have increased access to markets, are protected from diseases and are underpinned by scientific advice and economic research.
From 1 July 2008 the portfolio is expected to consist of:

• The Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, including the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS), the Bureau of Rural Sciences (BRS) and the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource
  Economics (ABARE).
  
  
• Four prescribed agencies under the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 (FMA Act):

– Biosecurity Australia
– Dairy Adjustment Authority
– Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority
– Australian Fisheries Management Authority

• One statutory marketing authority:

– Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation

• One regulatory authority:

– Wheat Exports Australia

• Seven Research and Development Corporations

– Cotton, Fisheries, Grains, Grape and Wine, Land and Water, Rural Industries and Sugar.

The proposed legislative changes to bulk wheat export arrangements will result in the cessation of the existing Export Wheat Commission (EWC). It is expected from 1 July 2008 that a new regulator, Wheat Exports Australia, will develop and administer
an accreditation scheme for bulk wheat exporters.

Legislation is before parliament to approve revised governance arrangements for the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA). In particular, the amendments will provide for AFMA to cease to be regulated under the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 and become a prescribed agency under the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 from 1 July 2008. Funding for AFMA will be appropriated to the department and transferred to AFMA through the additional estimates process when the legislation has passed.

Each agency within the portfolio has an outcome and one or more outputs that contribute to the portfolio outcome. Details are provided in each agency’s section of this document.

The Dairy Adjustment Authority is in the process of being wound up and is not expected to contribute to the portfolio outcome during the 2008–09 year. Therefore, detailed information for the authority is not included in this document.

Portfolio Resources Made Available in the Budget Year