About the PI Ministerial Council
Introduction
The particular importance of Ministerial Councils in the Australian context is to facilitate the implementation, nationally, of plans and proposals which would not otherwise be possible because of the limitations imposed by the division of constitutional powers between Australian, State and Territory governments.
The Primary Industries Ministerial Council (PIMC) consists of the Australian/State/Territory and New Zealand government ministers responsible for agriculture, food, fibre, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture industries/production and rural adjustment policy. This Council results from the amalgamation of the previous ministerial councils (ARMCANZ and MCFFA) that dealt with elements of these issues.
The Council is the peak government forum for consultation, coordination and, where appropriate, integration of action by governments on primary industries issues.
The Council first met in May 2002.
Objective
The agreed objective of the Council is:
"to develop and promote sustainable, innovative and profitable agriculture, fisheries/aquaculture, and food and forestry industries".
Terms of reference
The terms of reference of the Council are to:
(a) develop, implement and review policies and strategies for achieving agreed national approaches to the development of sustainable primary and related food industries;
(b) actively liase with other Ministerial Councils and other bodies on matters relevant to the activities of the Council; and
(c) direct the work of and consider matters submitted by its Standing Committee.
TopMembership
All Australian/State/Territory and New Zealand government ministers responsible for agriculture, food, fibre, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture industries/production and rural adjustment policy are members of the Council. Papua New Guinea is invited to participate in meetings as an observer.
Chairing
The Council is Chaired by the Australian Government Minister responsible for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Secretariat
The Secretariat is provided by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Method of operation
Decisions of the Council are arrived at by consensus. For consideration of issues out-of-session, agenda papers are directed to all Council Ministers with the most appropriate Minister asked to provide a single coordinated State/Territory response.
The Council meets twice a year with meetings hosted by members in an agreed rotation. The proceedings are held in camera and the resolutions of Council are cleared by all members before they are published.
The Council is supported by one permanent Standing Committee, the Primary Industries Standing Committee (PISC), membership of which comprises Departmental Heads/CEOs of relevant Australian/ State/ Territory and New Zealand government agencies.
The above operational arrangements are consistent with the Protocols and General Principles for the Operation of Ministerial Councils agreed by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) in June 2001.