Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
The Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s role is to develop and implement policies and programs that ensure Australia's agricultural, fisheries, food and forestry industries remain competitive, profitable and sustainable.
The department’s policies and programs:
- encourage and support sustainable natural resource use and management
- protect the health and safety of plant and animal industries
- enable industries to adapt to compete in a fast-changing international and economic environment
- help improve market access and market performance for the agricultural and food sector
- encourage and assist industries to adopt new technology and practices
- assist primary producers and the food industry to develop business and marketing skills, and to be financially self-reliant.
The Department employs about 4,200 staff in Australia and overseas, including policy officers, program administrators, scientists, economists, meat inspectors, veterinary officers and quarantine inspectors.
Portfolio agencies
The portfolio consists 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)
- Five Financial Management and Accountability Act (FMA) agencies:
- Eight Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act (CAC) bodies:
- Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation
- Cotton Research and Development Corporation
- Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
- Grains Research and Development Corporation
- Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation
- Land and Water Australia
- Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation
- Sugar Research and Development Corporation.
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority, the Australian Fisheries Management Authority and Wheat Exports Australia also undertake regulatory roles.