Government policy and objectives

I acknowledge the importance of the range of regulatory and non-regulatory tools that can be deployed to achieve the objectives outlined in the legislation and I expect you to ensure that implementation of regulation is in accordance with good regulatory practice. I expect you to ensure the continued use of non-regulatory tools where appropriate to achieve government policy objectives.

The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) utilises a range of regulatory and non-regulatory tools when setting out to achieve the objectives outlined in the legislation and work will continue to employ these tools and improve the options available to ensure these expectations continue to be met. This will be achieved through a range of activities, for example:

• Implementing current legislation, reviewing the controls provided in existing legislation and developing new legislation, where appropriate;
• Enacting relevant nationally agreed standards under Victorian legislation;
• Implementing new enforcement policies;
• Delivering education programs; and
• Developing partnership agreements with community and industry groups to allow for proactive monitoring and detection of diseases, pests or weeds that pose a biosecurity risk to Victorian assets.

For example, DPI will implement the new Plant Biosecurity Act 2010 and its associated Regulations and will also enact nationally agreed livestock management standards under the Livestock Management Act 2010.

Where regulation is required, DPI will approach the use of regulatory tools with a view to imposing the minimum cost to industry required to achieve the objective of the legislation.

I expect that regulatory responses will be fair, consistent and proportionate to the circumstances. I expect that, where appropriate, you will ensure that enforcement is undertaken when individuals and entities (private and public) fail to meet their regulatory obligations, particularly where that failure impacts on the rights of others.

Regulatory responses will continue to be fit-for-purpose and enforcement will focus on the failure of individuals and entities to meet their regulatory obligations, particularly where that failure impacts on the rights of others. In particular, this includes undertaking targeted and enhanced compliance activities for regionally controlled weeds, in line with the Improved Enforcement Implementation Plan.

This enforcement principle is embodied in the new Biosecurity Victoria (BV) Divisional Enforcement Policy.

I expect you to ensure that risk-based approaches will guide the delivery of regulatory outcomes, minimising cost to industry and applying the lowest level of regulatory intervention necessary to achieve the outcomes sought.

DPI will continue to use risk-based approaches to guide the delivery of regulatory outcomes and will seek to reduce the regulatory burden on groups and individuals through a range of activities, including:

• Reviewing the systems and controls in place for selected legislation;
• Exploring opportunities to increase access to online services; and
• Consolidating inspection and audit activities to streamline processes for individuals and businesses that are regulated by DPI.

In doing so, DPI will seek to minimise the cost to industry, while meeting the objectives of the legislation or government policy.

These aspects have been built into the new BV Divisional Enforcement Policy, which is being applied across all biosecurity regulatory activity.

I recognise that you have a well developed, clearly articulated and closely monitored system of regulatory management, supported by your culture of continuous improvement. Consistent with this, I expect you to continue to improve your systems and their coordination to streamline processes for regulated individuals and businesses.

Your activities are essential to primary production, market access, animal welfare, public amenity, public health and the environment. I expect that you will also manage risks and emergencies effectively and ensure that processes and training are in place to support this requirement.

Managing risks and emergencies is one of DPI’s areas of strength. DPI will continue to manage risks and emergencies and will conduct scenario planning and training to support these activities. Preparedness planning will be undertaken for identified risks, such as varroa mite and surveillance projects will be implemented for specific Victorian animal industry diseases, with a view to ensuring early detection of and rapid, planned responses to serious disease outbreaks.

I acknowledge that you have also played a significant role in influencing a national approach to policy development and regulation. I expect you to maintain a leading role in national fora to promote good regulatory practice and foster consistency of outcomes. I expect that you will actively participate in the development of national standards to promote the interests of Victoria.

DPI seeks to maintain influence on significant national policy development and regulation through active participation in a number of national committees, including the National Biosecurity Committee, the Animal Welfare and Product Integrity Taskforce, the Vertebrates Pest Committee, the Australian Weeds Committee, Animal Health Australia and Plant Health Australia fora and the Primary Industries Standing Committee. These efforts will continue to ensure that the development of national policies and standards take Victoria’s interests into account.

DPI will also continue to provide authoritative and timely advice to you to support your role on the Standing Council on Primary Industries.

Stakeholder relationships and engagement

You maintain active relationships with relevant government agencies as you discharge your regulatory functions. I expect you to continue to work constructively with these agencies to deliver Victorian Government policy, including regulatory reform.

DPI maintains active and robust relationships with other government agencies, industry stakeholders and the community. Work will continue to build on these relationships, including:

• Liaising with key stakeholders through various Ministerial, statutory and advisory Committees and Boards;
• Working with industry to develop co-regulatory management approaches, where appropriate;
• Providing co-funding for specific activities to help build capacity and capability for defined activities; and
• Improving access to online information and services.

For example, DPI will work closely with industry to develop a joint co-regulation and management approach to endemic pests, such as Queensland Fruit Fly.

DPI will also support initiatives that will accelerate the voluntary uptake of electronic National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) (Sheep) technology within the sheep industry.

Partnerships with community and industry stakeholders are vital to delivering outcomes. I recognise the importance of maintaining a balance between the interests and needs of your industry stakeholders, while at the same time discharging your regulatory obligations in a transparent and equitable way. I ask you to continue to build active relationships with stakeholders, including working to develop co-regulation and management principles.

I recognise the mutual obligation we have in the exchange of information. To this end, I expect you to provide me with timely, authoritative advice regarding biosecurity. I will undertake to keep you informed of matters pertinent to the discharge of your regulatory responsibilities.

DPI recognises the importance of information exchange between the Department and the Minister and commits to providing timely and authoritative advice regarding biosecurity matters, including animal welfare and product integrity issues.

Accountability and transparency

Measuring, tracking and publicly reporting performance is integral to accountability and transparency. I recognise the Department of Primary Industries has established a strategic planning and reporting process that includes defined performance indicators for the Department and for sectors for which it has portfolio responsibility. It is important that work continues to enhance indicators related to the functional performance and impact of the regulator. Consistent with the performance framework that is being rolled out across the Victorian public sector, I expect that you will measure and report on outputs and outcomes.

DPI will continue to define and enhance performance indicators related to biosecurity to measure and report on outputs and outcomes. To achieve this, BV will work with other areas of the Department within existing strategic planning and reporting processes and through active participation on the Forum of Primary Industries Regulators and other relevant fora.

I expect that this Statement will be incorporated into your ongoing planning processes and that reporting against this Statement will be published in the Department’s annual report.

Reporting against these performance indicators and your Statement of Expectations will be incorporated into the DPI annual report.