Regulator Performance Framework

The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet manage the Regulator Performance Framework reporting and further information on this process can be found on their website.

Access to DAWE data

Our department was established on 1 February 2020. Before this, we were the:

  • Department of Agriculture
  • Department of the Environment and Energy (Environment portfolio)

2019-20 was the first-year reporting as a new department. it was agreed for the 2019-20 reporting year to publish an overall narrative on the work for the newly developed department. Prior year reports from the previous departments are available below.

2019–20 self-assessment

Our new department was formed in the context of the world-wide COVID-19 pandemic, devastating bushfires and prevalent threats to our environment and agricultural industries, both at the border and domestically. These events have challenged us and the way we perform our role as a regulator in a way that enhances Australia’s agriculture, unique environment and heritage, and water resources.

We are a department comprised of different regulators and, through our 128 legislative instruments, collectively we interact with many sectors in the Australian economy. Whilst our primary focus is to deliver regulation in a manner relevant to shaping behaviour in each particular sector, we remain committed to bringing together our regulatory practices in the ongoing pursuit of better practice.

Our 2019-20 narrative gives a snapshot into the work of our regulators as we have been establishing our department and the framework for reporting against the Regulator Performance Framework in future years.

2018–19 self-assessments

In 2018-19, the former departments of Agriculture and Environment and Energy assessed their own performance.

We sought stakeholder feedback on 8 assessments. There were 7 from the agriculture portfolio and 1 from the environment portfolio.

Agriculture

The former department conducted self-assessments for 7 regulatory functions including:

  • delivering biosecurity functions
  • export control, including certification
  • regulating the import of timber products and raw log processing to combat illegal logging
  • monitoring imported food
  • collecting levies for research, development and marketing
  • implementing the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards scheme
  • regulating live animal exports
Maturity rating Requirement
Optimal Comprehensive regulatory systems and processes. Demonstrated achievement.
Managed Comprehensive regulatory systems and processes. Minor achievement issues.  Corrective action in place.
Sound Sound regulatory systems and processes. Some achievement issues or limitations in assessing regulator performance.
In transition Limited regulatory systems and processes.  Significant achievement issues and/or limitations in assessing regulator performance.
Not meeting expectations Regulatory systems and processes highly limited. Performance not assessed or limited.

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Environment and Energy

The former Department of Environment and Energy conducted 1 self-assessment that covered all regulatory functions. This includes:

  • protection of the environment and biodiversity. This includes assessment and approval of activities impacting on matters of national environmental significance, such as wildlife trade
  • regulation of activities in the Antarctic Treaty Area
  • managing air quality, product standards for small non-road non-diesel engines and regulation of ozone depleting substances and synthetic greenhouse gases
  • managing waste, including regulation of exports of hazardous waste, and administration of product stewardship schemes including e-waste, oil, tyres and the Australian Packaging Covenant
  • renewable energy and energy markets.

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