| Agency Name: | Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) |
| Type: | Department |
| Formed: | 21 October 1998 |
| Preceding1: | Department of Primary Industries and Energy |
| Dissolved: | 18 September 2013 |
| Superseding: | Department of Agriculture |
| Jurisdiction: | Commonwealth of Australia |
| Employees: | 5,185 (at April 2013) |
| Chief1 Name: | Andrew Metcalfe |
| Chief1 Position: | Secretary (2013)[1] [2] |
| Chief3 Name: | Conall O'Connell |
| Chief3 Position: | Secretary (2007–2013)[3] [4] |
| Chief4 Name: | Joanna Hewitt |
| Chief4 Position: | Secretary (2004–2007)[5] |
| Chief5 Name: | Mike Taylor |
| Chief5 Position: | Secretary (2000–2004) |
| Chief6 Name: | Ken Matthews |
| Chief6 Position: | Secretary (1998–1999) |
| Child1 Agency: | AQIS – Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service |
| Child2 Agency: | ABARE – Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics |
| Child3 Agency: | BRS – Bureau of Rural Sciences |
| Child4 Agency: | Biosecurity Australia |
| Child5 Agency: | AFMA – Australian Fisheries Management Authority |
| Child6 Agency: | Wheat Exports Australia |
| Child7 Agency: | Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority |
| Child8 Agency: | Cotton Research and Development Corporation |
| Child9 Agency: | Fisheries Research and Development Corporation |
| Child10 Agency: | Grains Research and Development Corporation |
| Child11 Agency: | Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation |
| Child12 Agency: | Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation |
| Child13 Agency: | Sugar Research and Development Corporation |
| Child14 Agency: | Wine Australia Corporation |
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) was an Australian government department that existed between 1998 and 2013, when it was renamed as the Department of Agriculture. DAFF's role was to develop and implement policies and programs that ensure Australia's agricultural, fisheries, food and forestry industries remained competitive, profitable and sustainable.
DAFF policies and programs were to:
DAFF facilitated the development of self-reliant, profitable, competitive and sustainable Australian farm businesses and industries. Through consultation with industry, DAFF developed and implemented policies and programs that helped to assure product safety and integrity. Particular emphasis was placed on on-farm risk management that related to food safety.
Divisions which fell within the broader department included: Sustainable Resource Management (Fisheries), Climate Change (Drought Assistance, Australia's Farming Future, Forestry), Agricultural Productivity (FarmReady, Animal Welfare, Crops Horticulture & Wine, Food) and Trade & Market Access (Free Trade Agreements). DAFF's Biosecurity function, which was previously performed by AQIS, managed quarantine controls at Australia's borders to minimise the risk of exotic pests and diseases entering the country. DAFF also provided import and export inspection and certification to help retain Australia’s highly favourable animal, plant and human health status and wide access to overseas export markets.
At its creation, the department dealt with the following principal matters:
DAFF managed quarantine controls at Australia's borders to minimise the risk of exotic pests and diseases entering the country. DAFF also provided import and export inspection and certification to help retain Australia's highly favourable animal, plant and human health status and wide access to overseas export markets.
DAFF continuously looked to improve the effectiveness of the quarantine effort by working closely with other areas within DAFF to manage Australia's biosecurity system. The Department also worked closely with other Australian Government agencies – such as Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, Department of Health and Ageing, Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) and state/territory governments – to support their management of post–border detections and incursions of quarantine pests and diseases, and to support our own verification and certification activities for agriculture and food products.