We support our ministers to exercise powers under Australian law.
Our secretary and employees exercise any delegated legal powers. The secretary and some employees also have their own, non-delegated powers.
Find all laws we administer and matters relating to us in the Administrative Arrangements Order.
Our responsibilities
We are responsible for matters relating to:
- agricultural, pastoral, fishing, food and forest industries
- soils and other natural resources
- rural adjustment and drought issues
- rural industries inspection and quarantine
- primary industries research including economic research
- commodity marketing, including export promotion and agribusiness
- commodity-specific international organisations and activities
- administration of international commodity agreements
- administration of export controls on agricultural, fisheries and forestry industries products
- food security policy and programmes
- biosecurity, in relation to animals and plants
Laws and powers
We administer these laws on behalf of our ministers:
- Agricultural and Veterinary Chemical Products (Collection of Levy) Act 1994
- Agricultural and Veterinary Chemical Products Levy Imposition (Customs) Act 1994
- Agricultural and Veterinary Chemical Products Levy Imposition (Excise) Act 1994
- Agricultural and Veterinary Chemical Products Levy Imposition (General) Act 1994
- Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Act 1994
- Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Administration) Act 1992
- Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code Act 1994
- Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Legislation Amendment Act 2013
- Australian Meat and Live-stock Industry (Repeals and Consequential Provisions) Act 1997
- Biological Control Act 1984
- Biosecurity Act 2015, except to the extent administered by the Health Minister
- Biosecurity Charges Imposition (Customs) Act 2015
- Biosecurity Charges Imposition (Excise) Act 2015
- Biosecurity Charges Imposition (General) Act 2015
- Biosecurity (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2015, except to the extent administered by the Health Minister
- Dairy Industry Service Reform Act 2003
- Export Charges (Imposition—Customs) Act 2015
- Export Charges (Imposition—Excise) Act 2015
- Export Charges (Imposition—General) Act 2015
- Export Control Act 2020
- Export Control (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2020
- Farm Household Support Act 2014
- Farm Household Support Amendment (Additional Drought Assistance Measures) Act 2008
- Farm Household Support (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2014
- Fisheries Administration Act 1991
- Fisheries Agreements (Payments) Act 1991
- Fisheries Legislation Amendment (New Governance Arrangements for the Australian Fisheries Management Authority and Other Matters) Act 2008
- Fisheries Legislation (Consequential Provisions) Act 1991
- Fisheries Levy Act 1984
- Fisheries Management Act 1991
- Fisheries (Validation of Plans of Management) Act 2004
- Fishing Levy Act 1991
- Foreign Fishing Licences Levy Act 1991
- Grape and Wine Legislation Amendment (Australian Grape and Wine Authority) Act 2013
- Horticulture Marketing and Research and Development Services (Repeals and Consequential Provisions) Act 2000
- Household Stimulus Package Act (No. 2) 2009, Schedule 4, insofar as it relates to legislation administered by the Agriculture Minister
- Illegal Logging Prohibition Act 2012
- Imported Food Charges (Collection) Act 2015
- Imported Food Charges (Imposition—Customs) Act 2015
- Imported Food Charges (Imposition—Excise) Act 2015
- Imported Food Charges (Imposition—General) Act 2015
- Imported Food Control Act 1992
- Inspector-General of Live Animal Exports Act 2019
- Inspector-General of Live Animal Exports Amendment (Animal Welfare) Act 2023
- Natural Resources Management (Financial Assistance) Act 1992, except to the extent administered by the Environment Minister
- Pig Industry Act 2001
- Primary Industries (Excise) Levies Act 2024
- Primary Industries (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2024
- Primary Industries (Customs) Charges Act 2024
- Primary Industries (Services) Levies Act 2024
- Primary Industries Levies and Charges Collection Act 2024
- Primary Industries Levies and Charges Disbursement Act 2024
- Primary Industries Research and Development Act 1989
- Regional Forest Agreements Act 2002
- Regional Investment Corporation Act 2018
- Statutory Fishing Rights Charge Act 1991
- Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984
- United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization Act 1944
- Wheat Export Marketing Amendment Act 2012
- Wine Australia Act 2013
- Wool Services Privatisation Act 2000