Katana VentraIP

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is a Western Australian government department responsible for regulating and advancing agricultural and food industries, fisheries and regional development within the state. It was formed by an amalgamation of the Department of Agriculture and Food, Department of Fisheries and Department of Regional Development in 2017.

For the New South Wales government department of the same name, see Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (New South Wales).

Agency overview

1894

Government of Western Australia

1 Nash Street, Perth, Western Australia

1,687 (2006), 900 (2016)

  • Heather Brayford, Director General

www.dpird.wa.gov.au

The Minister for Agriculture and Food, the Minister for Regional Development and the Minister for Fisheries are responsible for the department.


In 2004 the department had operating costs of $215,000,000 approx with $120,000,000 provided directly by the state government. The balance was from federal government grants, public operating activities and user charges and fees.[1]


This department was also responsible for quarantine control on all plants, soil and animal products brought into the state. The Agricultural Protection Board [needs updating] is also part of this and responsible for the eradication of pests in Western Australia; including the rainbow lorikeet (Trichoglossus moluccanus),[2] skeleton weed (Chondrilla juncea),[3] and Portuguese millipede (Ommatoiulus moreletii).[4]

Western Australian Bureau of Agriculture 1894 - 1898

[6]

Department of Agriculture 1898 - 2006

Department of Agriculture and Food (Western Australia) 2006 - 2017

Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development 2017

[7]

Avondale Agricultural Research Station

Badgingarra Research Station

[8]

Esperance Downs Research Station

Gascoyne Research Station - Carnarvon

Katanning Research Station

Kununurra: Frank Wise Research Institute

Manjimup Research Station

[9]

Medina Research Station

Merredin Research Station

Mount Barker Research Station

Research Station

Newdegate

Vasse Research Station

Wongan Hills Research Station

[10]

The department operates the following research stations throughout Western Australia:

Buy West, Eat Best

Articles about the first months of the Western Australian Bureau of Agriculture (predecessor of Department of Agriculture): bureau set up, list of members and tasks it should accomplish (January 1894); editorial on new bureau and its proposed functions (2 March 1894); report of meeting (21 March 1894); report of bureau's first 6 months (September 1894). West Australian, 27 January 1894, p. 4; 2 March 1894, p. 4; 21 March 1894, p. 2; 19 September 1894, p. 5,

Watt, Peter. Centenary, 1894-1994: Profiles of Progress: Department of Agriculture Perth, W.A.: The Dept., 1994

Official website