Federal Ministers Responsible for Biotechnology are:
Senator the Honorable Kim Carr
Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
Federal Government Departments and Agencies relevant to biotechnology are:
Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research (DIISR)
The Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research seeks to encourage the sustainable growth of Australian industries by developing a national innovation system that drives knowledge creation, cutting edge science and research, international competitiveness and greater productivity. The Department’s responsibilities span both academic and commercial research.
The Department has five key divisions:
• Innovation
• Industry
• Science
• Research
• Small Business
The Contact list for managers in the Innovation Division can be found here
CSIRO
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation is Australia’s national agency for applied scientific research, and is one of the largest in the world.
Australian Research Council (ARC)
The Australian Research Council advises the Government on research matters, manages the National Competitive Grants Program, and runs a new research-quality assessment system, the Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) initiative.
National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
The National Health and Medical Research Council is Australia's peak body for supporting health and medical research. It administers grants for health and medical research on behalf of the Australian Government. It also provides advice on health, ethical behaviour in health care and medical research.
Food Standards Australian New Zealand (FSANZ)
Food Standards Australia New Zealand is a statutory authority that is responsible for developing food standards (regulations) for Australia and New Zealand. FSANZ maintain three main objectives in Australia: the protection of public health and safety; the provision of adequate information for consumers, and the prevention of misleading or deceptive conduct.
Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR)
The Office of the Gene Technology Regulator provides administrative support to the Gene Technology Regulator, who is responsible for the regulation of genetically modified organisms in Australia. This is to protect the health and safety of Australians and the Australian environment by identifying and managing risks posed by, or as a result of, gene technology.
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF)
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is committed to making Australian agriculture, fisheries and forestry more sustainable, competitive and profitable. The responsible adoption of biotechnology will contribute to the achievement of this objective. DAFF undertakes a range of activities relevant to biotechnology and provides information and raises awareness of agricultural biotechnology issues.