Gifts and benefits

The department is required to report all gifts or benefits accepted by our Secretary which are valued at over $100.

Regular reporting ensures our Secretary meets public expectations regarding public service integrity, accountability, independence, transparency, and professionalism.

In order to demonstrate the department’s commitment to meeting these expectations, gifts and benefits received by Deputy Secretaries are also publicly reported.

Access to data

We update the gifts and benefits list each quarter or within 31 days of the Secretary and Deputy Secretaries receiving a gift or benefit. The information is available on the department’s website for 12 months. We also publish the register of gifts and benefits for each reporting period on data.gov.au.

Statement by the Secretary

In the course of undertaking my duties as Agency Head of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, I declare I received the following gifts and/or benefits, the value of which exceeds the stipulated threshold of $AUD100.00 (excluding GST).

Reporting of Gifts and Benefits – 1 July 2023 – 30 September 2023
Received Recorded Item Received by Presented by Occasion Estimated Value $A*
Commencement of the position - 18 September 2023 9 September 2023 Qantas Chairman Lounge membership Mr Adam Fennessy PSM Qantas Benefit is provided at the discretion of Qantas and renewed annually while occupying the role as Secretary of the Department above $100

*Wholesale value in country of origin or current market value in Australia

Statement by the Former Secretary

In the course of undertaking my duties as Agency Head of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and formerly Department of Agriculture, Water, and the Environment, I declare I received the following gifts and/or benefits, the value of which exceeds the stipulated threshold of $AUD100.00 (excluding GST).

Reporting of Gifts and Benefits – 1 July 2023 – 30 September 2023
Received Recorded Item Received by Presented by Occasion Estimated Value $A*
Feb 2020 11 October 2023 Qantas Chairman Lounge membership Mr Andrew Metcalfe AO Qantas Benefit is provided at the discretion of Qantas and renewed annually while occupying the role as Secretary of the Department above $100
Reporting of Gifts and Benefits – 1 April 2023 – 30 June 2023
Received Recorded Item Received by Presented by Occasion Estimated Value $A*
Feb 2020 11 October 2023 Qantas Chairman Lounge membership Mr Andrew Metcalfe AO Qantas Benefit is provided at the discretion of Qantas and renewed annually while occupying the role as Secretary of the Department above $100
Reporting of Gifts and Benefits – 1 January 2023 – 31 March 2023
Received Recorded Item Received by Presented by Occasion Estimated Value $A*
23 January 2023 23 March 2023 Accommodation - 4 nights at the Grand Hyatt Hotel Berlin Mr Andrew Metcalfe AO Federal Ministry for Food and Agriculture Attendance at the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture $1,056.00
Feb 2020 11 October 2023 Qantas Chairman Lounge membership Mr Andrew Metcalfe AO Qantas Benefit is provided at the discretion of Qantas and renewed annually while occupying the role as Secretary of the Department above $100
Reporting of Gifts and Benefits – 1 October 2022 – 31 December 2022
Received Recorded Item Received by Presented by Occasion Estimated Value $A*
Feb 2020 11 October 2023 Qantas Chairman Lounge membership Mr Andrew Metcalfe AO Qantas Benefit is provided at the discretion of Qantas and renewed annually while occupying the role as Secretary of the Department above $100

*Wholesale value in country of origin or current market value in Australia

Statement by Deputy Secretaries

In the course of undertaking my duties as a Deputy Secretary at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, I declare I received the following gifts and/or benefits, the value of which exceeds the stipulated threshold of $AUD100.00 (excluding GST).

Gifts and Benefit Reporting – 1 July 2023 – 30 September 2023
Received Recorded Item Received by Presented by Occasion Estimated Value $A*
Mid 2015(benefit ongoing) 7 September 2023 Qantas Chairman Lounge membership Ms Cindy Briscoe Qantas Benefit is renewed annually while occupying the Deputy Secretary role above $100
Mid 2015(benefit ongoing) 7 September 2023 Virgin Beyond Lounge membership Ms Cindy Briscoe Virgin Unsolicited benefit and is renewed while occupying the Deputy Secretary role above $100
17 January 2022 (benefit ongoing) 8 September 2023 Qantas Chairman Lounge membership Mr Christopher Locke Qantas Unsolicited offer from Qantas Airline above $100
3 February 2021 (benefit ongoing) 12 September 2023 Qantas Chairman Lounge membership Ms Rosemary Deininger Qantas Benefit is provided at the discretion of Qantas above $100
Nil gifts received N/A N/A Mr Matt Koval PSM N/A N/A Nil to declare
Nil gifts received N/A N/A Nicola Hinder PSM N/A N/A Nil to declare
Nil gifts received N/A N/A Tess Bishop N/A N/A Nil to declare
Gifts and Benefit Reporting – 1 April 2023 – 30 June 2023
Received Recorded Item Received by Presented by Occasion Estimated Value $A*
Mid 2015 (benefit ongoing) 7 September 2023 Qantas Chairman Lounge membership Ms Cindy Briscoe Qantas Benefit is renewed annually while occupying the Deputy Secretary role above $100
Mid 2015(benefit ongoing) 7 September 2023 Virgin Beyond Lounge membership Ms Cindy Briscoe Virgin Unsolicited benefit and is renewed while occupying the Deputy Secretary role above $100
17 January 2022 (benefit ongoing) 8 September 2023 Qantas Chairman Lounge membership Mr Christopher Locke Qantas Unsolicited offer from Qantas Airline above $100
3 February 2021 (benefit ongoing) 12 September 2023 Qantas Chairman Lounge membership Ms Rosemary Deininger Qantas Benefit is provided at the discretion of Qantas above $100
Nil gifts received N/A N/A Mr Matt Koval PSM N/A N/A Nil to declare
Gifts and Benefit Reporting – 1 January 2023 – 31 March 2023
Received Recorded Item Received by Presented by Occasion Estimated Value $A*
Mid 2015 (benefit ongoing) 7 September 2023 Qantas Chairman Lounge membership Ms Cindy Briscoe Qantas Benefit is renewed annually while occupying the Deputy Secretary role above $100
Mid 2015(benefit ongoing) 7 September 2023 Virgin Beyond Lounge membership Ms Cindy Briscoe Virgin Unsolicited benefit and is renewed while occupying the Deputy Secretary role above $100
17 January 2022 (benefit ongoing) 8 September 2023 Qantas Chairman Lounge membership Mr Christopher Locke Qantas Unsolicited offer from Qantas Airline above $100
3 February 2021 (benefit ongoing) 12 September 2023 Qantas Chairman Lounge membership Ms Rosemary Deininger Qantas Benefit is provided at the discretion of Qantas above $100
Nil gifts received N/A N/A Ms Nicola Hinder PSM N/A N/A Nil to declare
Nil gifts received N/A N/A Mr Matt Koval PSM N/A N/A Nil to declare
Gifts and Benefit Reporting – 1 October 2022 – 31 December 2022
Received Recorded Item Received by Presented by Occasion Estimated Value $A*
3 February 2021 (benefit ongoing) 12 September 2023 Qantas Chairman Lounge membership Ms Rosemary Deininger Qantas Benefit is provided at the discretion of Qantas above $100
Mid 2015 (benefit ongoing) 7 September 2023 Qantas Chairman Lounge membership Ms Cindy Briscoe Qantas Benefit is renewed annually while occupying the Deputy Secretary role above $100
Mid 2015(benefit ongoing) 7 September 2023 Virgin Beyond Lounge membership Ms Cindy Briscoe Virgin Unsolicited benefit and is renewed while occupying the Deputy Secretary role above $100
17 January 2022 (benefit ongoing) 8 September 2023 Qantas Chairman Lounge membership Mr Christopher Locke Qantas Unsolicited offer from Qantas Airline above $100
Nil gifts received N/A N/A Ms Nicola Hinder PSM N/A N/A Nil to declare

*Wholesale value in country of origin or current