Responsibilities and terms of reference
The Standing Committee's main objectives are to support the Council in the achievement of its objectives and to develop cooperative and coordinated approaches to matters of concern to the Council.
Having regard to the terms of reference of the Council, the Standing Committee:
- directs the work of its subordinate committees;
- secures cooperation between members; and
- advises Council on the initiation, review and development of Standing Committee activities.
Membership
All Department Heads/CEOs of Australian/State/Territory and New Zealand government agencies responsible for agriculture, food, fibre, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture industries/production and rural adjustment policy issues are members of Standing Committee.
Papua New Guinea is a formal observer. As appropriate, other organisations and representatives of other Standing Committees may be invited to participate in Standing Committee activities as observers.
Chairing
The Standing Committee Chair is the Secretary of the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Secretariat
Secretariat support for the Standing Committee is provided by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Meeting arrangements
Meetings are held twice a year, usually in March and September, and about four weeks before a Primary Industries Ministerial Council (PIMC) meeting. Meetings of PISC are rotated between Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.
Major advisory committees
Advice to PISC and PIMC on a wide range of issues is developed by expert advisory committees. The work of these committees is divided into essentially four areas and is supported by a range of working groups and ad hoc task forces. These advisory committees are:
- Industries Development Committee
- Primary Industries Health Committee
- Forestry and Forest Products Committee
A diagrammatic structure chart depicting the PIMC, PISC and underpinning Committees is attached. (PIMC Structure Chart)
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