Department of Agriculture and Fisheries

Queensland Budget 2023-24 · Palaszczuk Government

Minister
Mark Furner MP
Department head
Director-General Dr Chris Sarra

As at budget day (2023-06-13)

$550.8M
Total expenses
$27.3M
Capital program
$13M
2 tracked measures
2,120
FTE staff

Key service areas

Enabling Agriculture Industry GrowthQueensland Biosecurity ServicesFisheries and Forestry Industry Development

Budget initiatives

Biosecurity Preparedness Package$11.9MNewAnnounced

Funding to address increasing animal and plant biosecurity risks, including foot-and-mouth disease and lumpy skin disease, and to shift Biosecurity Queensland to a more proactive posture.

Funding strengthens Queensland's defences against animal and plant diseases like foot-and-mouth and lumpy skin disease, protecting the agriculture industry and food supply.

General Government operating. Combines the Biosecurity Preparedness Package ($22M over 5 years for animal diseases) and Biosecurity Preparedness and Capability Uplift ($21.7M over 5 years for plant pests). The $11.9M in 2023-24 combines both line items ($4.977M + $6.957M). BP1 references $22M + $22M for animal and plant biosecurity.

Improving Swimmer Safety and Shark Control Program$1.3MContinuingAnnounced

Funding to continue the shark control program, undertake research, trial new technologies such as drones, and roll out education and awareness programs to improve swimmer safety.

Continued shark control, new technologies like drones and education programs help keep swimmers safe at Queensland beaches.

2022-23: $0.5M2023-24: $1.3M2024-25: $1.9M2025-26: $2.4M2026-27: $3M

General Government operating, $9.2M over 5 years and $3M per annum ongoing

Forward estimates

Year-by-year allocations for 1 measure with published forward profiles.

Measure2022-232023-242024-252025-262026-27Total
Improving Swimmer Safety and Shark Control Program$0.5M$1.3M$1.9M$2.4M$3M$9.2M
Total$527K$1.3M$1.9M$2.4M$3.0M$9.2M

Performance metrics

Service standards from the Service Delivery Statement. Targets and actuals as published.

MetricPrior targetActualTarget
2024-252024-252025-26
Percentage of primary producers adopting drought and climate resilient practices as a result of DAF support20%28%20%
Assessed impact of completed agricultural research, development and extension projects and/or programs (Benefit Cost Ratio)>4.04.0>4.0
Proportion of significant biosecurity responses that deliver the planned outcomes to safeguard economic loss95%100%95%
Cost of significant biosecurity responses per agricultural production unit≥1:4501:450≥1:450
Percentage of key Queensland fish stocks assessed that are considered to have no sustainability concerns85%85%85%
Percentage of units inspected that are compliant with fisheries laws90%89%90%
Average expense necessary to authorise the removal of a cubic metre of forest product — native forest timber$38.15$47.20$47.20

Source: Service Delivery Statement. Prior target and actual are for 2024-25; target is for 2025-26.

Source document

Service Delivery Statement — Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (PDF)

Last updated: 2026-06-21. Factual information from published budget documents.