THE former director-general of WA's Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Rob Delane, has been appointed as Australia's next Inspector-General of Biosecurity (IGB).
The inspector general helps keep Australia safe from exotic pests and diseases through independent evaluation and verification of the biosecurity system.
Federal Agriculture and Water Resources Minister David Littleproud made the announcement on Friday, saying Mr Delane would bring a wealth of experience to the role.
"The Inspector General of Biosecurity provides a valuable independent perspective as they assess and improve how we manage Australia's biosecurity," Mr Littleproud said.
"Increased passenger movement and trade means more biosecurity risks and challenges, so it is important to review our systems to make sure they are effective.
"With 40 years' experience in science-based work, including biosecurity programs across animal and plant industries, Mr Delane is well qualified.
"We need a strong biosecurity system to protect our farms, our $60 billion farm industry, our environment and our way of life, which could all be threatened by pests and diseases.
"Mr Delane has been appointed as IGB for a three-year term.
"I thank our current IGB, Helen Scott-Orr, for her efforts to strengthen Australia's biosecurity system.
"Dr Scott-Orr's term expires in July 2019, at which time Mr Delane will take up the role.
"Dr Scott-Orr has been in the role since 2016 and in this time has completed a number of reviews, including those on uncooked prawn imports, invasive mosquitoes and is also working on current inquiries including into pre-border biosecurity measures and managing the risks of brown marmorated stink bugs."
Mr Delane was director general of what was then the Department of Agriculture and Food from 2010 to 2016.
He was appointed to that position by former agriculture minister Terry Redman, but was controversially moved aside from the position in 2016 by then premier Colin Barnett and put into a new agriculture unit within the Department of State Development.
During his time at DAFWA, Mr Delane was forced to deal with significant budget cuts and oversee many job losses within the department.
In 2017 he took up a position as deputy director-general of International Education, Trade and Investment under a Labor government within the Department of Jobs Tourism Science & Innovation, until he left that position in August last year.
Mr Delane is no stranger to the machinations of biosecurity in Canberra, prior to his appointment as DAFWA director-general he was the deputy secretary, Biosecurity Services Group and executive director of the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service.