| Agency Name: | Department of Agriculture and Water Resources |
| Type: | Department |
| Preceding1: | Department of Agriculture |
| Dissolved: | 29 May 2019 |
| Superseding: | Department of Agriculture |
| Jurisdiction: | Australia |
| Minister1 Name: | David Littleproud |
| Minister1 Pfo: | Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources |
| Minister3 Name: | Richard Colbeck |
| Minister3 Pfo: | Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources |
| Chief1 Name: | Daryl Quinlivan |
| Chief1 Position: | Secretary (2015–2019) |
| Child1 Agency: | Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resources Economics and Sciences |
| Child2 Agency: | Australian Fisheries Management Authority |
| Child3 Agency: | Agricultural Minister's Forum |
| Child4 Agency: | Agricultural Industry Advisory Council |
| Child5 Agency: | Agricultural Senior Officials Committee |
| Child6 Agency: | Australian Grape and Wine Authority |
| Child7 Agency: | Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority |
| Child8 Agency: | Cotton Research and Development Corporation |
| Child9 Agency: | Fisheries Research and Development Corporation |
| Child10 Agency: | Forest and Wood Products Council |
| Child11 Agency: | Grains Research and Development Corporation |
| Child12 Agency: | Indonesia-Australian Partnership on Food Security in the Red Meat and Cattle Sector |
| Child13 Agency: | Murray-Darling Basin Authority |
| Child14 Agency: | National Landcare Advisory Committee |
| Child15 Agency: | National Rural Advisory Council |
| Child16 Agency: | Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation |
The Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources was a government department that existed between 2015 and 2019, which was responsible for developing and implementing policies and programs that contribute to strengthening Australia's primary industries, delivering better returns for primary producers at the farm gate, protecting Australia from animal and plant pests and diseases, and improving the health of Australia's rivers and freshwater ecosystems.
The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, Daryl Quinlivan, was responsible to the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, The Hon. David Littleproud . The Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources was Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck since August 2018. The Assistant Minister to the former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce was the Hon Luke Hartsuyker MP.[1]
Following the appointment of the Second Morrison Ministry in May 2019, Scott Morrison announced David Littleproud's previous ministerial positions were separated, with Bridget McKenzie as Minister for Agriculture and Littleproud as Minister for Water Resources. The Department again changed to the Department of Agriculture.
The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources' vision was to help drive a stronger Australian economy by building a more profitable, more resilient and more sustainable agriculture sector, and by supporting the sustainable and productive management and use of rivers and water resources.
The department's annual reports provide information about its operations and performances in each financial year, and reviews its progress towards its objectives.
The department's Corporate Plan sets outs the department's eight strategic objectives. Those identified in the 2016–17 plan include:
The department strives to build strong relationships and work with governments, industry, importers and exporters, natural resource managers, primary producers, consumers, research and development organisations, rural communities and travellers.
The department employs approximately 4000 full-time equivalent staff, including accountants, animal and meat inspectors, biosecurity officers, economists, information and communication technology (ICT) staff, policy officers, program administrators, researchers, scientists, survey staff and veterinary officers.
The corporate structure is organised into divisions to support work across a broad range of agricultural, biosecurity, fisheries and forestry and water management activities.
The department is located in regional centres, rural communities and cities throughout Australia. Around 58 per cent of its Australian-based employees work outside Canberra, in capital cities and regional offices, major airports, mail centres, shipping ports, laboratories and abattoirs.
Globally, the department works in Bangkok, Beijing, Brussels, Dubai, Jakarta, New Delhi, Rome, Seoul, Tokyo and Washington, to maintain relationships with Australia's trading partners and international organisations.
The department was formed by way of an administrative order issued on 21 September 2015,[2] replacing the previous Department of Agriculture, following the appointment of Malcolm Turnbull as Prime Minister of Australia.
The department provides specialised policy advice to the Australian Government and delivers a range of policies and programs to:
The department takes a risk-based approach to safeguarding Australia against animal and plant pests and diseases and helps importers and exporters to meet regulatory requirements by:
The department manages, coordinates and prepares for response actions to national priority pests, diseases and weeds, including:
The department’s work is grounded in research and science, providing information and analysis on agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries, including:
The department collects and audits primary industry levies for marketing, research and development, animal and plant health, residue testing and emergency response.
The department works in partnership and collaboration with its clients, stakeholders, governments and the community by engaging with those who have a vested interest in the way it does business. This engagement consists of: