AGY-3987 | Department of Primary Industries [I]

Full description

On 1 July 2004, the Department of Mineral Resources, NSW Agriculture, NSW Fisheries, and State Forests of NSW were abolished and their branches transferred to the newly created Department of Primary Industries. (1)

The Department of Primary Industries’ priorities were:
i) foster profitable and sustainable primary industries in New South Wales;
ii) support New South Wales primary industries in maintaining their international competitive position through world class scientific capability;
iii) increase collaboration with industry and other research bodies to convert research findings into innovative technologies and practices for New South Wales primary industry operations;
iv) assist primary industries to wisely manage the state’s natural resources;
v) promote a safe working environment within New South Wales primary industries from a human, mine safety and biosecurity perspective; and
vi) improve service delivery to the community, stakeholders, farmers, fishers and industry by providing responsive, value for money and efficient government services. (2)

In 2005, the Department of Primary Industries consisted of the following Divisions:
i) Primary Industries Trading - A public trading enterprise which incorporates State Forests business activities and all other Department of Primary Industry activities that are traded in the commercial market place
ii) Strategy, Policy & Communication Division - Coordinates all policy & strategy development for the Department, as well as communications to internal and external stakeholders
iii) Primary Industries Agriculture & Fisheries Division - Delivers integrated and cost effective services to communities and the agricultural and fishing primary industries
iv) Primary Industries Minerals Resources Division - Delivers integrated and cost effective services to the mining industry
v) Primary Industries Science & Research Division - Works to focus the research effort and develop priorities in the context of the broad business strategy for the Department
vi) Biosecurity, Compliance & Mine Safety Division - Spearheads the focus on biosecurity, compliance and mine safety
vii) Corporate Services Division - Provides shared human resources, information technology and financial services. (3)

During late 2004 and early 2005, the main office of Mineral Resources relocated from Sydney to Maitland in the Hunter Valley.

In 2007 several groups of staff from the Department of Natural Resources were transferred to the Department of Primary Industries. This included staff principally involved in providing soil conservation services to landowners (including in connection with salinity and acid-sulphate soils), principally involved in forestry structural adjustment, and principally involved in the administration of the Plantations and Reafforestation Act 1999. (4)

Subsequently, Clause 17 (4) (d) was omitted from the list of amendments, and replaced with the transfer of certain Department of Natural Resources corporate service staff, principally involved in providing human resources, payroll, finance, information technology and other corporate services, for transfer to the Department of Primary Industries rather than the Department of Environment and Climate Change. (5)

From 1 July 2009 the Department of Primary Industries was abolished and its functions were transferred to the new Principal Department, the Department of Industry and Investment. (6)

Endnotes
1. Public Sector Employment and Management (Department of Primary Industries) Order 2004, NSW Government Gazette Special Supplement, No.100, 18 June 2004, p.3816.
2. NSW Department of Primary Industries website http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/reader/dpi-about-us, (accessed 20/1/2005).
3. loc. cit.
4. NSW Government Gazette, No 47, Special Supplement, 2 April 2007, p.2104.
5. NSW Government Gazette, No 56, Special Supplement, 20 April 2007, p.2435.
6. Public Sector Employment and Management (Departmental Amalgamations) Order 2009 (2009 No 352) cls. 16; notified on NSW Legislation website, 27 July 2009.