3.1
This chapter considers the key issues discussed during the hearings for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry portfolio on 7 and 8 November 2022.
3.2
The committee heard from the following divisions of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (the department) and portfolio agencies:
Corporate Matters Divisions (Legal and Governance; Digital Services; and People, Property and Security);
Outcome 1 Divisions (Agricultural Policy; Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals, Fisheries, Forestry and Engagement; Portfolio Strategy and Climate Policy; Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics; Farm Resilience; Trade, Market Access and International; Digital Trade Initiatives; and Trade Reform);
Outcome 2 Divisions (Biosecurity Animal; Biosecurity Plant and Science Services; Biosecurity Strategy and Reform; Compliance and Enforcement; Biosecurity Operations; Australian Chief Veterinary Office; Exports and Veterinary Services; and Plant and Live Animal Exports);
Regional Investment Corporation;
Inspector-General of Biosecurity;
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation;
Australian Fisheries Management Authority;
Meat and Livestock Australia Limited;
Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (AgriFutures Australia); and
Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority.
3.3
Wine Australia, Cotton Research and Development Corporation and Australian Wool Innovations were released from the hearing without questioning.
3.4
Senator the Hon Murray Watt, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and Minister for Emergency Management began the session by acknowledging the challenges the agriculture sector has been experiencing due to extreme weather events:
Our agriculture sector has faced a number of challenges, many of which have been beyond any government's control. Several floods across the east of our country have wiped out crops, resulted in stock losses and caused massive damage to freight routes. In Victoria alone, early reports suggest that more than 3,000 farm animals have been lost and more than 120,000 hectares of crops have been damaged. And, of course, we are seeing similar events right across the country. This is causing immense pain to producers and rural Australia and is driving up the cost of groceries for people right around the country. There can be no doubt that the severity and regularity of these natural disasters is a result of climate change, and it's our farmers who are on the frontline of this.
Corporate Matters
3.5
The committee commenced its examination of the Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry portfolio on 7 November 2022 by hearing evidence from the Corporate Matters Divisions. The topics discussed were as follows:
work from home and hybrid working arrangements; and
staff changeover during machinery-of-government changes.
Outcome 1: More sustainable productive, internationally competitive and profitable Australian agricultural, food and fibre industries through policies and initiatives that promote better resource management practices, innovation, self-reliance and improved access to international markets.
3.6
The committee heard evidence from divisions under Outcome 1 on 7 November 2022. Topics discussed included:
methane reduction (pp. 65–71 and pp.100–101);
Agriculture Shows and Field Day program (pp. 71–73 and pp.102–104);
Inspector-General of Animal Welfare (pp. 73–75);
agricultural skills and workforce shortages (pp. 76–79);
Agricultural Visa Program and memorandum of understanding with Vietnam (p. 79);
breaches of the Regional Forests Agreement (pp. 86–89);
plantation forests expansion plans (pp. 80–90 and 96–98);
Strategy and Climate Policy Division establishment (p. 91);
regenerative farming practices (p. 101);
regional funding under the Regional Land Partnership Agreement (pp. 104–105);
market choice and affordability of eggs (pp. 105–106); and
Digital Agricultural Progams (pp. 107–109).
Outcome 2: Safeguard Australia’s animal and plant health status to maintain overseas markets and protect the economy and environment from the impact of exotic pests and diseases, through risk assessment, inspection and certification, and the implementation of emergency response arrangements for Australian agricultural, food and fibre industries.
3.7
The committee heard evidence from divisions under Outcome 2 on 7 November 2022. Topics discussed included:
exotic pest management (p. 111);
detector dog program (pp. 114–117);
digital services to take farmers to market program (pp. 118–119);
animal welfare incidents (pp. 120–123);
timeline of live exports phase out (pp. 124–126);
Fire ant eradication project (pp. 127–130);
live exports independent observer program (pp. 130–131);
biosecurity in Northern Australia (pp. 131–132);
immediate assistance fund for response and preparedness to exotic pest outbreaks (pp. 131–134);
feedlots and Indonesian engagement and approvals (p. 134); and
Horse Racing Working Group (pp. 134–135).
Regional Investment Corporation
3.8
Topics discussed with the Regional Investment Corporation on 7 November 2022 were as follows:
supporting young farmers (p. 136); and
Regional Investment Corporation staffing breakdown (p. 137).
Inspector-General of Biosecurity
3.9
The committee heard evidence from the Inspector-General of Biosecurity on the following matters on 7 November 2022:
Varroa mite detection sites and origin of the pest (pp. 137–138);
role of the Inspector-General of Biosecurity (p. 138).
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
3.10
Evidence from Fisheries Research and Development Corporation canvassed the following topics on 8 November 2022:
Spanish mackerel program (pp. 6–8 and 10–11);
South East Trawl management and response to climate change impacts (pp. 7–9);
country of origin labelling (p. 11); and
reef preservation and marine conservation centres in Queensland and Tasmania (pp. 12–13).
Australian Fisheries Management Authority
3.11
Evidence was heard on 8 November 2022 from the Australian Fisheries Management Authority. The committee discussed the following topics:
illegal fishing practices (pp. 14–16);
sustainable harvesting of fish stocks (p. 16);
update on trial of expansion of Commonwealth waters (p. 17);
recent ecological risk assessments (p. 20); and
marine parks (pp. 20–21).
Dairy Australia
3.12
The committee heard evidence from Dairy Australia on 8 November 2022. Issues discussed included:
timeliness of annual report (pp. 21–22);
impact of energy price increase on milk production (p. 22);
flood recoveries (pp. 22–23);
results of the Dairy Poll 2022 (p. 24);
Australian Dairy Farmers Advisory Committee’s appointment of board members (pp. 25–27);
slow-release technology and its impact on methane reduction (pp. 28–31);
cost of labelling changes (pp. 33–34); and
carbon calculators on dairy farms (pp. 35–37).
Meat & Livestock Australia
3.13
The Chair of Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), Mr Allan Beckett gave an opening statement on 8 November 2022 that covered the community sentiment research that MLA have recently undertaken:
I'll just share with you a couple of things that have been going on at MLA. Community sentiment research has just come in, and I can share with you that three in five Australians feel good about the beef and lamb industry. Perceptions about the red meat industry are relatively strong. One in three metropolitan Australians feel they are knowledgeable about the industry, and 60 per cent of metropolitan Australians have a strong level of trust with the red meat industry, which is really encouraging.
3.14
Topics discussed during MLA’s appearance included:
United Nation’s Sustainable Goals and implications for the Australian market (pp. 37–40);
average consumption of red meat and red meat products in Australian households (p. 38);
methane reduction measures (pp. 40–41);
asparagopsis trial (pp. 41–44); and
transparency of fertiliser prices (pp. 44–45).
Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (AgriFutures Australia)
3.15
The committee heard evidence from AgriFutures Australia on 8 November 2022. The following topics were discussed:
the proportion of levy income increases attributable to rice producers (p. 46); and
developments in hemp markets (pp. 46–47).
Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority
3.16
Topics discussed with the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority on 8 November 2022 included:
staffing locations and flexible working arrangements (pp. 47–48);
supply of wild dog baits (p. 49); and
current internal complaints and reporting procedures (pp. 49–51).
Senator Glenn Sterle
Chair