WESTERN Australian lobby groups hope agriculture will remain a priority in the State government’s agency shake-up, announced last Friday.
The government will trim 41 departments down to 25 in a move it says will create a more efficient public sector.
And the Department of Agriculture and Food (DAFWA) is in the firing line.
From July 1, the new Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development will incorporate DAFWA and the Regional Development and Fisheries commissions.
WAFarmers president Tony York said the reform would provide a more streamlined approach, despite the seemingly increased size and responsibility of departments.
“During their election campaign, WA Labor did acknowledge their intentions to perform a public sector renewal, though we did not anticipate that it would be this comprehensive,” Mr York said.
“That said, the development of a Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, through the amalgamation of agencies including the Department of Agriculture and Food, makes sense.
“Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan is not only in charge of the Agriculture and Food portfolio but is also Minister for Regional Development, so by combining her expertise with that of Fisheries Minister David Kelly, the sector is in good hands.
“We hope the amalgamation of these agencies will have many benefits, not only for agriculture, but for regional communities as a stronger regional presence is developed.”
Mr York said while the streamlining of agencies into a more comprehensive system should ensure an efficient exchange of information and resources between related portfolios, commitments to biosecurity, quarantine and agricultural protection must not be lost in the new ministry.
“Agriculture is an important sector of the State’s economy and deserves the government’s highest interest, so the new department must ensure that the opportunities in agriculture remain a priority,” he said.
“DAFWA is charged with providing services to industry in an effort to support and drive the agrifood sector, so we hope and anticipate that by expanding the industries represented in agribusiness and regional development by combining primary industries, there will be greater returns in the long run which will keep agriculture as a priority.”
Ms MacTiernan said the changes would provide more opportunities for agriculture.
“Bringing together these departments will allow us to capitalise on the natural synergies between agriculture and regional development,” Ms MacTiernan said.
“We know that unlocking our agricultural potential will be one of the biggest long-term job creators in regional WA.
“This will drive job creation and guarantees the best results for the sector, pushing agriculture to the front and centre of this government’s regional investment program.
“Over the long term, we hope this process will see more departmental agriculture staffed deployed on the ground in the regions, working to boost investment and support farmers and growers.”
Ms MacTiernan said as an example, DAFWA had one staff member in the Pilbara, who was working on biosecurity issues, but it was a region with tremendous agriculture growth potential.
“This presents the opportunity to bring the focus we need on agricultural development right across the State,” she said.
The reform sat well with Pastoralists and Graziers Association (PGA) policy, said president Tony Seabrook.
“Those who have been around for a long time have heard a lot of promises before, including cutting red tape,” Mr Seabrook said.
“On the basis of benefit-of-the-doubt, it sits well with the PGA’s policy that a smaller government with less people is better.
“We will wait and see, but at least the government is being proactive.
“If they are moving in the right direction we will support it, but we want to see the runs on the board first.”
Mr Seabrook’s main reform concern was accessibility.
He said if a minister’s workload became too much, access to them to discuss industry issues and future direction would become less of a priority – something he hoped wouldn’t be the case.
Under the reform, Ms MacTiernan will retain Agriculture and Food, with Mr Kelly overseeing Water, Fisheries, Forestry, Innovation and ICT and Science.
Premier Mark McGowan said the reform aimed at creating collaborative departments, focused on whole-of-government objectives and delivering services in the most efficient way, including using new technology.
“We are getting on with the job and delivering on our election commitment to drive real change across the public sector,” Mr McGowan said.
“Under our changes, departments will work together to solve the problems confronting our State, by communicating in an effective manner to deliver for the community.
“This is the most significant reform of the public sector for a long time, we are not just changing the name on the door.
“I’m ushering in new leadership, new departmental mandates and new opportunities for the public sector to drive substantial long-term change and maximise each opportunity to deliver better services to the community.
“Inevitably, over time, there will be public sector job losses but these will be approached in a managed, orderly and equitable way.
“The potential job losses are a regrettable consequence of the financial mess and dysfunction left behind by the previous government.”
Mr McGowan said new directors general would be instructed to deliver a 20 per cent reduction in the 521-member senior executive service, the State’s highest paid bureaucrats.
Public servants will be asked to identify examples of waste, inefficiency, duplication and red tape that can be eliminated to improve the public sector.
The announcement surpasses the election commitment to reduce the number of departments by 20pc and includes a big reshuffle of chief executives.
It comes ahead of the service priority review that will deliver further structural changes and savings.
The government said the changes would be the first step in driving cultural change and delivering multi-million dollar cost savings across government to assist with much-needed budget repair.
The Public Sector Commission said the new Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development chief will be Regional Development director general Ralph Addis.
Mr Addis grew up in the Great Southern on a sheep and grain farm in Cranbrook, where his family has been farming since the 1900s.
He worked in Kununurra with the development of the Ord River and assisted with the development of Ord Stage One and the native title agreement process.
It is understood that senior staff in the new agency will come from the Fisheries and Agriculture and Food departments.
Current DAFWA acting director general Mark Webb will lead the new Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
Parliamentary secretary for Regional Development, Agriculture and Food, State Development, Trade and Jobs, Darren West, said the changes would create a super department and would be a great outcome for agriculture.
“We think we can rationalise more of the services across the agencies,” Mr West said.
“We can build a really sound biosecurity arm and a strong innovation arm with these agencies together.”
The Agriculture Region MP said there was a similar structure in South Australia where there were 22 departments, including the Department of Primary Industries and Regions.
He said the plan took more than six months to develop.
“We have given our commitment to rebuild government investment in the food sector, there may be some resetting of jobs, but we can assure the sector there will be more people on the ground and to engage grower groups and universities.
“There will be some changes and quite a reduction in management.
“We need to be more efficient.”
The WA Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) said the business community welcomed the announcement.
CCI said boosting efficiencies in the public sector was vital to repairing WA’s budget position and attracting new business investment that would create jobs.
CCI chief executive Deidre Willmott said the plan was a powerful step forward in repairing the budget.
“Reducing public sector spending is critical to repairing the budget position, regaining the State’s AAA credit rating and attracting investment, so business welcomes the announcement from the State government,” Ms Willmott said.
“CCI has long called for the merging of government departments to drive savings and create greater efficiencies not only for the benefit of the public purse, but for a better service experience for businesses and consumers - excessive government departments creates red tape, confusion and a lack of consistency for industry, which hinders business growth overall.”
