This article was accepted into the corpus but its outbound wikilinks were never NER-processed — typical at the deepest BFS hop or when the run's entity cap was reached. No expansion funnel to show.
| Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (Western Australia) | |
|---|---|
| Agency name | Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development |
| Formed | 2017 |
| Preceding1 | Department of Agriculture and Food (Western Australia) |
| Preceding2 | Department of Fisheries (Western Australia) |
| Preceding3 | Department of Regional Development (Western Australia) |
| Jurisdiction | Western Australia |
| Headquarters | Perth, Western Australia |
| Parent agency | Government of Western Australia |
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (Western Australia) is a statutory administrative body responsible for supporting Western Australia's agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and regional development sectors through policy, regulation, research, and extension services. Formed by the merger of predecessor agencies, the department operates across urban and rural centres, linking scientific institutions, industry bodies, and regional stakeholders to deliver industry support and biosecurity measures. It works alongside state ministers, statutory authorities, and national bodies to implement programs across the state's diverse primary industries and regional communities.
The department was established in 2017 from the amalgamation of the Department of Agriculture and Food (Western Australia), the Department of Fisheries (Western Australia), and the Department of Regional Development (Western Australia), reflecting reforms promoted by the McGowan Ministry and administrative changes influenced by precedents such as the formation of the Department of Environment and Conservation (Western Australia). Its antecedents trace back to colonial institutions like the Agricultural Department of Western Australia and agencies formed during the administrations of premiers such as John Forrest and Philip Collier, with policy evolution following events including the Great Depression and post-war reconstruction. The department's remit has been shaped by national arrangements including the Council of Australian Governments and intergovernmental agreements with agencies like the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation and the Australian Fisheries Management Authority.
The department administers statutory responsibilities under acts and instruments such as the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 and fisheries legislation, interacting with tribunals and bodies like the Minister for Agriculture and Food (Western Australia), the State Emergency Service (Western Australia) in biosecurity responses, and the Western Australian Planning Commission when regional infrastructure is implicated. It provides regulatory services including quarantine enforcement, plant protection, and stock surveillance linked to national frameworks like the Emergency Animal Disease Response Agreement and collaborates with research partners including the University of Western Australia, Curtin University, and the Murdoch University veterinary programs. The department also advises on market access, export certification, and trade facilitation relevant to stakeholders including the Australian Trade and Investment Commission and industry councils such as the Western Australian Farmers Federation.
The department's executive is accountable to portfolio ministers and includes divisions mirroring legacy agencies, with senior leadership roles interacting with boards such as the Agriculture and Food Research Advisory Board and statutory authorities including the Grains Research and Development Corporation. Regional offices are aligned with regional development commissions like the Pilbara Development Commission, the Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission, and the Kimberley Development Commission, while research institutes coordinate with national centres such as the CSIRO and state institutions including the Western Australian Museum. Governance arrangements incorporate audit and compliance units reporting to the Public Sector Commission (Western Australia) and liaising with tribunals and parliamentary committees such as the Legislative Council of Western Australia.
The department delivers programs targeting productivity, sustainability, and resilience, including extension services modeled on programs historically delivered by organizations like the Department of Primary Industries and Energy and initiatives co-funded with bodies such as the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation. Key initiatives address pests and diseases through measures aligned with the National Plant Biosecurity Strategy and collaborate with emergency response frameworks like the National Disaster Resilience Strategy, while regional economic programs coordinate with the Royalties for Regions fund and tourism partnerships involving agencies like Tourism Western Australia. Agricultural innovation projects involve partnerships with corporations and commodity councils including the Grain Producers Australia and the Western Australian Pork Producers Association.
Scientific capability is delivered through specialist research divisions that partner with institutions such as the CSIRO, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) research stations, and university faculties at The University of Western Australia and Curtin University, and coordinate with national research bodies including the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences. Research themes include agronomy, plant breeding, fisheries science, aquaculture, and soil science, interfacing with international programs and agreements like those involving the Food and Agriculture Organization and the International Plant Protection Convention. The department manages experimental stations and diagnostic laboratories, linking to professional networks such as the Australian Veterinary Association and the Australian Society for Microbiology.
Regional service delivery is conducted through regional offices and field staff who engage commodity groups, local governments including the Shire of Broome and City of Albany, and industry associations such as the Western Australian Fishing Industry Council and the WA Dairy Industry Authority. The department facilitates grants, capacity building, and extension services in collaboration with regional bodies like the Mid West Development Commission and national programs administered by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Australia). Engagement includes stakeholder consultations with unions and producer groups, participation in events such as the AgQuip exposition, and cooperative projects with Indigenous corporations and land councils including the Kimberley Land Council.
Funding is provided through state budget appropriations ratified by the Parliament of Western Australia and supplemented by competitive grants from national bodies like the Australian Research Council and matched funding schemes with agencies such as the Grains Research and Development Corporation. Governance frameworks follow statutory reporting to ministers and audit processes involving the Auditor General of Western Australia, and comply with procurement and transparency obligations overseen by the Department of Treasury (Western Australia). Strategic plans align with statewide strategies, regional development policies, and national frameworks negotiated with entities such as the Council of Australian Governments and industry peak bodies including the National Farmers' Federation.