Agriculture Commissioner Act 2024 (NSW)

Agriculture Commissioner Act 2024 No 77

An Act to establish the office of the Agriculture Commissioner and to provide for the functions of the office; and for other purposes.

Part 1 Preliminary

1 Name of Act This Act is the Agriculture Commissioner Act 2024.

2 Commencement This Act commences on the date of assent to this Act.

3 Definitions In this Act— agricultural matters means matters relating to agriculture, agricultural productivity, land use conflicts, food security and agroecology. Agriculture Commissioner or Commissioner means the person appointed as the Agriculture Commissioner by the Governor under section 4(2).

Note— The Interpretation Act 1987 contains definitions and other provisions that affect the interpretation and application of this Act.

Part 2 Agriculture Commissioner

4 Establishment of Agriculture Commissioner (1) There must be an Agriculture Commissioner. (2) The Commissioner is appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of the Minister. (3) The Commissioner is an officer of the Crown. (4) Schedule 1 contains provisions relating to the Commissioner.

5 Functions of Agriculture Commissioner (1) The Commissioner has the following functions— (a) to give advice about, and undertake reviews of, agricultural matters, (b) to make recommendations about agricultural matters to the Minister and other relevant Ministers, (c) to monitor developments relating to agricultural matters, (d) to identify opportunities to improve agricultural matters, (e) to promote a coordinated and collaborative approach across the Commonwealth Government, the NSW Government and local government in relation to agricultural matters, (f) other functions conferred on the Commissioner by or under this Act or another Act. (2) The Commissioner must, from time to time, in consultation with relevant NSW Government agencies, prepare and publish maps of New South Wales in relation to agricultural matters to assist in the exercise of the Commissioner's functions. (3) To assist in the exercise of the Commissioner's functions, the Commissioner may— (a) engage experts and stakeholders, and (b) enter into contracts or other arrangements. (4) The Commissioner is subject to the control and direction of the Minister in the exercise of the Commissioner's functions, other than in relation to the content of the Commissioner's advice, reviews, reports or recommendations. (5) The Commissioner must act in an independent and impartial way in relation to the content of the Commissioner's advice, reviews, reports or recommendations.