Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (Queensland)

The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries is a department of the Queensland Government which aims to maximise the economic potential for Queensland's primary industries on a sustainable basis through strategic industrial development. The section known as Biosecurity Queensland is responsible for biosecurity matters within the state.

Agriculture and Fisheries

Agency overview
Preceding agencies	Primary Industries and Fisheries Queensland Department of Primary Industries Queensland Department of Agriculture and Stock Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Queensland Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Jurisdiction	State of Queensland
Headquarters	Primary Industries Building, 80 Ann Street, Brisbane
Minister responsible	Mark Furner
Website	www.daf.qld.gov.au

The department was formerly known (with varying responsibilities) as:

• Department of Agriculture (17 June 1887 – 1 January 1904)^[1]
• Department of Agriculture and Stock (1 January 1904 – 26 September 1963)^[2]
• Department of Primary Industries (26 September 1963 – 26 February 1996)^[3][4]
• Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries and Forestry (26 February 1996 – 29 June 1998)^[5]
• Department of Primary Industries (29 June 1998 – 12 February 2004)^[6]
• Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (12 February 2004 – 25 March 2009)^[7]
• Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (25 March 2009 – 3 April 2012)^[8]
• Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (3 April 2012 – 16 February 2015)^[9]

after which it assumed its current identity Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.^[10]

Functions

 

A quarantine area has been established on Cape York Peninsula and Torres Strait to stop the spread of the Red banded mango caterpillar.

Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry provides expertise and support that increases primary industries productivity, expands markets and assists with adaption to change.^[11] It conducts research, policy advice, protects against pests and diseases, maintains animal welfare standards, as well as managing fisheries.

History

The first functions of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry began in 1855 when a sheep scab inspector began work in the New South Wales colony of Moreton Bay. After Queensland's Separation, livestock diseases were addressed through regulations administered by the Stock Branch in the Queensland Colonial Secretary's Office.^[12] The Stock Branch was established by the Queensland chief inspector of stock Patrick Robertson Gordon.^[13]

Biosecurity

Further information: Biosecurity in Australia

The Biosecurity Queensland section^[14] is responsible for coordinating efforts to minimise the risks and effects of threatening pests and diseases.^[15] Biosecurity Queensland is responsible for weed management in the state.^[16]

In 2009, Biosecurity Queensland was successful in its attempt to eradicate a citrus canker outbreak in Central Queensland.

The Tree of Knowledge was successfully cloned in 2008 by workers at the former Department of Primary Industries.^[17]

The overarching federal legislation, Biosecurity Act 2015, the state's Biosecurity Act 2014,^[18] and the Queensland Biosecurity Strategy 2018-2023^[19] govern and guide the department's responsibilities with regard to biosecurity.

Research

In 2009, Primary Industries and Fisheries (now Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) together with the University of Queensland were granted federal funding to study how methane emissions from cattle and sheep could be reduced.^[20]

Publications

From 1897 to 1921 the department published the Queensland Agricultural Journal.

Notable staff

• George Alexander Currie, agricultural scientist
• Alexandre Arsène Girault, entomologist
• Ernest James Goddard, science coordinator
• Bela "Bert" Grof, agricultural researcher
• Christopher Sheehy, dairy administrator
• Lindsay Stuart Smith, botanist

See also

•  Queensland portal

• 2007 Australian equine influenza outbreak
• Animal Research Institute, Yeerongpilly
• List of common weeds of Queensland
• Queensland State Soils Collection

References

1. "Agency ID 124, Agriculture Department". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
2. "Agency ID 39, Department of Agriculture and Stock". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
3. "Agency ID 11731, Department of Primary Industries I". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
4. "Queensland Department of Primary Industries". Encyclopedia of Australian Science. 8 May 2006. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
5. "Agency ID 535, Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries and Forestry". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
6. "Agency ID 11732, Department of Primary Industries II". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
7. "Agency ID 8616, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
8. "Agency ID 11170, Employment, Economic Development and Innovation Department". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
9. "Agency ID 11456, Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Department". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
10. "Agency ID 11656, Agriculture and Fisheries Department". Queensland State Archives. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
11. . Regional Entry Point. Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport. 24 October 2006. Archived from the original on 27 February 2012. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
12. Alison Clark (8 December 2009). . Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation. Archived from the original on 13 April 2012. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
13. "Gordon, Patrick Robertson (1834–1915)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
14. "Biosecurity". Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland. 2 October 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
15. Karl Sismey (25 November 2011). . Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation. Archived from the original on 25 January 2012. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
16. "State and territory weed management arrangements". Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. 21 April 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
17. Chrissy Arthur (30 April 2008). "Tree of Knowledge cloned". ABC News Online. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
18. "Biosecurity Act 2014: Current as at 1 March 2020". Queensland Government. 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
19. (PDF). Cc-by-sa-3.0. Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 July 2020. Retrieved 17 April 2020.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
20. . North Queensland Register. Fairfax Media. 7 April 2009. Archived from the original on 11 October 2009. Retrieved 5 February 2012.

External links

• Official website