Agriculture Protection Board of Western Australia
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The Honourable Kim Chance MLC Minister for Agriculture and Food, Forestry Parliament House PERTH WA 6000 Dear Minister In accordance with section 61 of the Financial Management Act 2006, I have pleasure in submitting for your information and presentation to Parliament the Annual Report of the Agriculture Protection Board for the year ending 30 June 2007. The report includes: • A brief background on the board itself; • An overview of issues and achievements throughout the 2006/2007 year; • Financial Statements; • The Boards key performance measures and outputs; and • A number of appendices containing supplementary information. On behalf of the Board, I once again take this opportunity to thank you for your ongoing support throughout the past year. Both I and my fellow Members look forward to continuing our close working relationship throughout the coming year, for the benefit of the State’s agricultural and pastoral industries and the wider community. Yours sincerely Chris Richardson CHAIRMAN, APB STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE In accordance with section 61 of the Financial Management Act 2006, we hereby submit for your information and presentation to Parliament, the annual Report of the Agriculture Protection Board for the year ended 30 June 2007. The Annual Report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Financial Management Act 2006. C Richardson J O’Brien Chairman of the Agriculture Protection Board Member of Agriculture Protection Board Date: Date: 3 Baron-Hay Court www.agric.wa.gov.au SOUTH PERTH WA 6151 [email protected] Locked Bag 4 Ph: (08) 9368 3942 Bentley Delivery Centre WA Fax: (08) 9474 5974 6983 TABLE OF CONTENTS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE OVERVIEW Executive Summary 1 Operational Structure 3 Performance Management Framework 8 Outcome Based Management Framework 8 Changes to Outcome Based Management Framework 8 Shared Responsibilities with Other Agencies 8 Funding Arrangements 9 AGENCY PERFORMANCE – REPORT ON OPERATIONS Financial Targets 11 Key Performance Indicators 12 Significant Issues and Trends 13 Financial Statements Certification of Financial Statements Income Statement Balance Sheet Statement of Changes in Equity Cash Flow Statement Index of notes to the Financial Statements Key Performance Indicators Certification of Key Performance Indicators Detailed Information in Support of Key Performance Indicators Ministerial Directives Governance Disclosures APPENDICES 1 Freedom of Information Requests 1 2 Customer Service Charter 2 3 Current List of Declared Animals 3 4 Current List of Declared Plants 25 5 APB Zonal Boundaries – Pastoral Areas 35 6 APB Zonal Boundaries – Agricultural Areas 36 7 ZCA Membership by Zone 37 8 Glossary of Terms Used in This Report 45 9 Feedback 47 Annual Report of the Agriculture Protection Board of WA – 2006/07 OVERVIEW Executive Summary During 2006, the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Bill 2006 (BAM Bill) and two associated Bills were introduced and passed by the Legislative Assembly and introduced into the Legislative Council. The Legislative Council referred the bill to the Standing Committee for Legislation which made 34 recommendations, the majority of which were accepted by the Government. The BAM Bill was passed by the Legislative Council on the 28 June 2007 and debate on the two associated BAM Bills will begin when Parliament reconvenes for its spring session. The Minister has agreed to allow Part 2, Division 6 of the BAM Act (“Biosecurity Council”) to commence as soon as the Act is assented to. It is anticipated that the Agriculture Protection Board (APB) will operate concurrently with the Biosecurity Council for a period of time after the Council is established until the Board’s enabling legislation, the Agriculture Protection Board Act 1950, is repealed. The Biosecurity Review undertaken by the Department, in partnership with the APB, Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC), Department of Fisheries (DoF) and Forest Products Commission (FPC), will provide the Biosecurity Council with a clear picture of the States Biosecurity status. As part of the preparation for the introduction of the proposed BAM Act, a discussion paper was released to pastoral landholders which outlined the arrangements for the recognition of biosecurity groups and the planning and budget process for Declared Pest Rates under the proposed Act. Wild Dogs are an ongoing issue and in an effort to minimise the impact of wild dogs on economic and community values the APB has developed the WA Rangelands Wild Dog Management Policy to provide the means to implement a strategic approach to wild dog management on both private and public land. The policy focuses on the activities of individual landholders and reinforces that the “Responsibility for wild dog control resides with all land managers”. Zone Control Authorities (ZCAs) located in the Pastoral area have embraced the WA Rangelands Wild Dog Management Policy and are integrating its principles into their regional wild dog control programs. The Bait Production Unit (BPU) has begun to change its bait manufacturing operations from the labour intensive dried meat bait production to a more cost efficient sausage bait. A new flaker and mincer/mixer was delivered to the BPU on Friday 15th June and once installed and tested the sausage bait manufacturing can commence. Negotiations will continue between DEC and DAFWA for the joint venture BPU and in the interim the APB Chair and BPU manager are proceeding with plans drawn up in 2005 for a new facility with the capacity to produce the State’s poison bait requirements to deal with animal pests that threaten agricultural activities and the biodiversity of indigenous animals. Consideration will be given to expand the BPUs production in the future, so that it can supply poison sausage baits on a commercial basis to markets in other State’s. Annual Report of the Agriculture Protection Board of WA – 2006/07 Page 1 The 2007 APB Pastoral conference was conducted over two days in Perth on the 28 and 29 of March. Traditionally the business of the annual APB Pastoral Conference was primarily to decide, in consultation with the five pastoral ZCAs, the quantum of the Agriculture Protection Rate to apply in the following financial year. More recently NRM issues have been included and with the passage of the BAM Bill through the WA Parliament the conference has provided opportunity to discuss with Pastoralists these developments and changes to legislation in line with the future delivery of pest plant and animal programs in the rangelands. Day one (Wednesday 28 March) provided an overview of current and future challenges for the sustainability of the rangelands not only from an NRM and pest management perspective, but also from an economic and social point of view. Considerable time was provided for presentations and discussion on the progress of the BAM Bill and the formation of Recognised Biosecurity Groups (RBGs). Proceedings on day two (Thursday 29th March) were primarily devoted to dealing with pastoral ZCA issues in relation to the year just completed and the year ahead and developments in declared pest research and programs to improve declared pest management. Both the RBGs Discussion Paper and the WA Rangelands Wild Dog Management Policy were discussed in detail at each of the pastoral ZCA meetings prior to the conference and delegates were happy to endorse “The WA Rangelands Wild Dog Management Policy” at the 2007 APB Pastoral Conference. The European House Borer is declared under ARRPA but funding is via the Department of Agriculture and Food. A legislative proposal was developed to amend the Agriculture and Related Resources Protection (European House Borer) Regulation 2006 to improve their operation, prior to the implementation of an expanded regulatory control program in the Metropolitan area in 2007. A national cost-sharing arrangement contributes to the ongoing surveillance and containment program, with a view to eradication of European House Borer (EHB) from Western Australia. From the extensive surveillance of 300,000 ha of pine trees conducted in the Perth metropolitan area and the South-west it appears that the pest is confined to the Perth metropolitan region. 115 infested sites have been identified in two main clusters, six isolated sites and eight pine plantations. A targeted communications campaign to educate key stakeholders has been an integral part of the program. Annual Report of the Agriculture Protection Board of WA – 2006/07 Page 2 Operational Structure Enabling Legislation The Agriculture Protection Board is established under the Agriculture Protection Board Act 1950. Administered Legislation The Agriculture Protection Board is responsible for the administration of the following statutes: • Agriculture and Related Resources Protection Act, 1976 • Plant Pests and Diseases (Eradication Funds) Act, 1974 • Argentine Ant Act, 1968 Responsible Minister The Honourable Kim Chance MLC, Minister for Agriculture and Food, Forestry. Mission The APB is a statutory authority established by the Agriculture Protection Board Act 1950, to minimise the impact of Declared Plants and Animals on agriculture and related resources. This function contributes to the State Government’s strategic goal of a strong and vibrant regional Western Australia, and to its desired outcome of protecting the productive resource base. The Agriculture Protection Board Act 1950 and the Agriculture and Related Resources Protection Act 1976 (‘the Protection Act’) prescribe the Board’s