Sustainable Resource Management Division

First Assistant Secretary

• Ian Thompson
  Switchboard: +61 2 6272 3933

The division provides policy advice and manages programs aimed at ensuring that agricultural production is undertaken sustainably, within the capacity of the landscape. This includes encouraging landowners and managers to maintain and improve the natural resource base on which agricultural production relies—soil, vegetation, water and atmosphere.

Australian Government Land and Coast

Grants and Sustainable Agriculture

• Assistant Secretary
  Paul McNamara

Landcare and Regional Delivery Improvements

• Assistant Secretary
  Michelle Lauder

Australian Government Land and Coasts (AGLC) is a joint venture between two Australian Government departments—Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.

AGLC provides program delivery, liaison with state and territory agencies and regional bodies, and administration of funding for the Australian Government’s Caring for our Country initiative.

Caring for our Country plays a vital role in protecting and improving Australia’s unique biodiversity, the viability of its rural and regional communities, and the future of its agricultural industries.

AGLC also provides policy advice and manages programs on a range of sustainable agriculture initiatives including landcare, environmental management systems, biodiversity and native vegetation, management of weeds and pest animals and market-based alternatives to regulation.

Visit the Caring for our Country website.

Fisheries

• Assistant Secretary
  Gordon Neil

DAFF develops and implements policies and programs to ensure Australia’s fisheries are competitive, profitable and sustainable. It supports Australia’s domestic fisheries and aquaculture, through:

• research
• quarantine
• fish health and food safety programs
• market access and trade negotiations
• business development and management assistance
• policy development
• representing Australia in international fisheries forums.

The department develops and reviews policy to promote competitive, profitable and sustainable fisheries industry. It works closely with the Australian Fisheries Management Authority and sets the policy direction for

• Commonwealth fisheries management
• progressing the operations of Joint Authorities
• legislative reform and reviews
• negotiating jurisdictional boundaries and resource sharing arrangements