Related Websites
Page IV. Roles and Responsibilities for Primary Industries RD&E
4. Parties' roles and responsibilities for Primary Industries RD&E
Parties have a range of roles and responsibilities but have shared interests in enhancing primary industries reseach, development and extension (RD&E) investments and have shared responsibility for implementing the National Rural RD&E Framework, and developing and implementing the underpinning sector and cross sector strategies.
The parties agree and acknowledge:
(a) the National RD&E Framework provides the principles and structure for the development and implementation of the sector and cross sector strategies by the Parties;
(b) there are other important contributors to primary industries RD&E in addition to the Parties including industry bodies, producers, funders, researchers, producer groups, and the like; and
(c) ongoing investment by government and industry in RD&E is required to deliver a core capability for primary industries.
5. Outline of roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders
5.1 Primary Industries Ministerial Council (PIMC).
The objective of PIMC is to develop and promote sustainable, innovative and profitable agriculture, fisheries/aquaculture, and food and forestry industries.
PIMC's role in relation to the National Primary Industries RD&E Framework is to:
(a) implement and review policies and strategies for achieving agreed national RD&E approaches to the development of sustainable primary industries;
(b) actively liaise with other Ministerial Councils and other bodies on matters relevant to the activities of the Council; and
(c) direct the work of and consider matters submitted by its Standing Committee.
All Australian/State/Territory and New Zealand government ministers responsible for agriculture, food, fibre, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture industries/production and rural adjustment policy are members of the PIMC.
5.2 Primary Industry Standing Committee (PISC)
Primary Industry Standing Committee (PISC) supports PIMC. PISC's main objectives are to support the PIMC in the achievement of it's objectives and to develop cooperative and coordinated approaches to matters of concern to PIMC.
Having regard to PIMC and its role in relation to the National Primary Industries RD&E Framework, PISC:
(a) secures cooperation between members;
(b) directs the work of its subordinate committees;
(c) PISC will maintain a R&D sub-committee for the purposes of the National RD&E Framework; and
(d) monitor the progress of the development and implementation of the National RD&E Framework and sector and cross-sector strategies, and will report to PIMC regularly on progress and on the review of the Framework.
All department heads/chief executive officers of Australian/State/Territory and New Zealand government agencies responsible for agriculture, food, fibre, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture industries/production and rural adjustment policy issues are member of PISC.
5.3 PISC R&D Subcommittee
The primary function of the PISC R&D Subcommittee is to:
(a) develop the scope of the National RD&E Framework for approval by PISC and PIMC;
(b) work with the Parties to identify the co-leadership and support roles;
(c) define, oversight and monitor a broad process for sector and cross-sector strategy development;
(d) develop the necessary agreements to ensure the National RD&E Framework functions effectively;
(e) at a level above the individual strategies, to work cooperatively to foster collaboration and change management plans and stakeholder engagement; and
(f) establish a process for reporting on the implementation of the National RD&E Framework.
The PISC R&D Subcommittee has a role in developing broad communication and other plans to facilitate the dissemination of national research to relevant regions.
The PISC R&D Subcommittee comprises representation from all PISC agencies, representatives of research and development corporations (RDCs) and the Australian Council of Deans of Agriculture.
5.4 Council of Rural Research and Development Corporations' Chairs
The role of the Chairs of the RDCs is to ensure the RDCs:
(a) are collectively continuing to contribute to a sustainable and profitable Australian primary industries sector,
(b) focused on implementing the National RD&E Framework, and
(c) monitor the progress of the development and implementation of the National RD&E Framework and sector and cross-sector strategies, and will report to PIMC regularly on progress.
5.5 Governments
The Australian Government has established National Research Priorities and complementary Rural Research and Development Priorities to direct and ensure the R&D objectives of the Australian Government and the primary industries are met. The Australian Government and State and Territory Governments invest substantially in primary industries RD&E in partnerships with industry (including through RDCs) and the private sector. All governments also invest in providing critical research infrastructure.
In the context of the National RD&E Framework and the development and implementation of the relevant sector strategies, individual governments (including States, Territories, and Commonwealth) will perform a:
(a) national leadership role where there is a major priority for the relevant government, and the government endeavours to give a high priority to funding research, including infrastructure, for that sector.
(b) support role where they undertakes some research, but the major activity is provided by another government jurisdiction or party.
(c) link where they undertake little or no research but access information and resources from other jurisdictions or parties to meet industry needs through D&E.
5.6 Industry sector
The Parties acknowledge that the 'industry sector' (non-research agencies representing primary industries such as peak industry councils) is both an investor and beneficiary of RD&E, and has the complementary knowledge and understanding of relevant industry RD&E priorities, and therefore will need to be engaged in the development of sector and cross-sector RD&E strategies.
The Parties will proactively engage the relevant industry agency/agencies in development and implementation of sector and cross sector RD&E strategies including strategic discussion of resource location and infrastructure.
5.7 Rural Research and Development Corporations and Industry Owned Companies
The 15 rural RDCs form a partnership between industry and government to prioritise, coordinate and integrate the demands of industry and government and align the capabilities of research providers responsible for primary industries RD&E. The Parties acknowledge that the RDCs have complementary knowledge, skills and resources necessary to jointly progress the objectives of the RD&E Framework.
The RDCs will perform a national leadership role for developing and implementing relevant industry sector strategies and support roles where relevant for other strategies.
5.8 University sector
The Parties acknowledge that the university sector is a major contributor of RD&E and has complementary knowledge, skills and the resources necessary to support the objectives of the National RD&E Framework.
The University sector will provide research services and access to information and resources to support implementation the National RD&E Framework and sector and cross-sector RD&E strategies. It will also provide high level education and training to ensure the manpower needed for the future supply of RD&E skills is available for implementing the Framework.
30 May 2011