Regulator Performance

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry plays a critical role as a regulator.

Through our regulation, we support a more sustainable and prosperous Australia through biosecurity, production and trade. We regulate in the public interest while continuing to safeguard and grow sustainable agriculture, fisheries and forestry for all Australians. We do this by working with the agricultural sector, engaging internationally and drawing on First Nations values and experience. We also work in partnership with Australian Government agencies, state, territory and local governments, private and philanthropic sectors, research and academic entities, and communities to regulate in the public interest.

Resource Management Guide – Regulator Performance

We are guided by the whole of government Resource Management Guide – Regulator Performance (RMG 128) | Department of Finance which outlines performance expectations for Commonwealth Regulators through three principles of best practice:

• Continuous improvement and building trust
• Risk based and data driven
• Collaboration and engagement.

Other elements of the guidance include:

• setting performance objectives through Ministerial Statements of Expectations
• reducing duplication and increasing accountability and transparency by moving regulator performance reporting under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry portfolio has eight regulatory functions. Three of these belong to statutory agencies:

• Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority
• Australian Fisheries and Maritime Authority
• Wine Australia.

The remaining five regulatory functions are administered by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry:

• assessment and management of biosecurity risks and risks relating to ballast water pursuant to the Biosecurity Act 2015 and associated charging legislation
• regulation of goods for export pursuant to the Export Control Act 2020 and associated charging legislation
• prohibition of the importation of illegally logged timber and the processing of illegally logged domestic raw logs pursuant to the Illegal Logging Prohibition Act 2012
• ensuring food imported into Australia complies with Australian food standards and public health and safety requirements pursuant to the Imported Food Control Act 1992 and associated charging legislation
• administering primary industry levy and charge collection to improve efficiency and effectiveness pursuant to the Primary Industries Levies and Charges Collection Act 1991 and associated imposition legislation.

Regulatory Statement of Expectations and Statement of Intent

Statements of Expectation (SOE) clarify the government's expectations about how the regulator will fulfil its statutory responsibilities. Regulators respond to a SOE with a Statement of Intent (SOI), that outlines how it will deliver on the Minister's expectations.

Once finalised, the Statement of Expectations from the Minister and the department’s responding Statement of Intent will be published on this page.

Please visit Historical reporting under the previous Regulator Performance Framework for prior reporting.

Regulatory Practice Statement

The Regulatory Practice Statement outlines how we approach our regulatory responsibilities.

The work we do plays a critical role in managing and enhancing Australia’s agriculture, unique environment, heritage and water resources.

The statement outlines:

• our regulatory responsibilities
• what stakeholders and the community can expect of us
• a set of regulatory practice principles which guide our regulatory behaviours and activities.

It demonstrates our commitment to:

• improving our business systems and tools
• investing in our people
• making it easier for businesses and regulated entities to understand and comply with our regulations.

Download

Read more

• Read our Compliance Policy
• Read our current Corporate Plan

Regulatory Stewardship

Effective regulatory stewardship involves strong governance, monitoring and care of our regulatory systems to ensure that all components of the system work well together to achieve its goals and remain fit for purpose.

The department is establishing the role of Chief Regulatory Officer to support the continued uplift of regulatory maturity and performance across the department. This new regulatory stewardship capability will:

• strengthen regulatory capability including through a consistent and contemporary approach to the training and development of staff
• support development and maintenance of contemporary, fit-for-purpose polices and regulatory tools to support effective decision-making and responsiveness
• foster a culture of continuous improvement of our regulatory systems and processes, learning from past successes and challenges
• support effective engagement with our stakeholders, including clear and regular communication of our regulatory objectives and approaches.

Updates will be included here as this work progresses.