Also known as
- Agriculture and Water Resources (Australian Government Department of)
About Us
The Australian Government Department of Agriculture develops and implements policies and programs to ensure Australia's agricultural, fisheries, food and forestry industries remain competitive, profitable and sustainable, and supports the sustainable and productive management and use of rivers and water resources. We have about 5000 staff working in offices, airports, mail centres, shipping ports, laboratories and abattoirs; located in regional centres, rural communities and capital cities.
The Department of Agriculture is an Australian Government department. We are part of the Agriculture portfolio.
Our ministers
Our ministers are:
- Minister for Agriculture — Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie
- Minister for Water Resources, Drought, Rural Finance, Natural Disaster and Emergency Management — the Hon David Littleproud MP
- Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries — Senator the Hon Jonathon Duniam
The department is led by our Secretary, Daryl Quinlivan.
We strive to build strong relationships and work with governments, industry, importers and exporters, natural resource managers, primary producers, consumers, research and development organisations, rural communities and travellers.
Our people
We have approximately 4000 full-time equivalent staff, including accountants, animal and meat inspectors, biosecurity officers, economists, information and communication technology (ICT) staff, policy officers, programme administrators, researchers, scientists, survey staff and veterinary officers.
Our corporate structure is organised into many divisions to support our work across a very broad range of agricultural, biosecurity, fisheries and forestry management activities.
You will find us in regional centres, rural communities and cities throughout Australia. Around 58 per cent of our Australian-based employees work outside Canberra, in capital cities and regional offices, major airports, mail centres, shipping ports, laboratories and abattoirs.
Globally, we work in Bangkok, Beijing, Brussels, Dubai, Jakarta, New Delhi, Rome, Seoul, Tokyo and Washington, to maintain relationships with Australia's trading partners and international organisations.
The department offers exciting employment opportunities in many different fields and locations.
FAQs
Has my account number changed?
No, your account number has not changed. If you are unsure of your current account number, please refer to your previous invoices or statement of account. You can print a copy of your current statement using the online payment service.
Have the invoice references changed?
Yes, they have changed in the new finance system. In the old system the invoice had a reference number starting with ‘300’. In the new system, newly created invoices will have a number starting with ‘100’.
Why does my invoice and statement look different in the new 18/19 financial year?
The department transitioned to a new finance system in July 2018 and the way information is displayed on your invoices or statement of account has changed. Invoices and statements still provide you with the same information but the detail or the way it is displayed may vary.
I am a cargo broker/importer. Why do my AIMS invoices no longer have a backing sheet with the entry number and details?
Separate invoices are now issued for each AIMS entry. This means that you will be able to see charges per entry information on the actual invoice rather than trying to locate a range of invoice entries on a backing sheet. The number of invoices you receive will increase however, this provides better clarity and will significantly reduce the time it takes to reconcile your accounts.
Can I still use the Integrated Cargo System (ICS) to lodge import declarations in the Integrated Cargo System (ICS).
Yes. The way you submit documents for biosecurity assessment lodgements has not changed. You can make payments for the AIMS entry number if you already have one, or you can request a new one. If you are an account client with the department, you can choose to pay when you receive an invoice from the new finance system. If you are unsure of your account or non-account status, please email AR Help desk.
Do I need to provide remittance advice with each payment?
Yes, you will need to provide a remittance advice with each payment made directly to the department (i.e. paying an invoice on the payment portal will not require a remittance advice but paying a statement will still require one). A remittance advice must be emailed immediately to [email protected] to allocate the payments to the invoices you want paid. Delay in sending this may cause penalties to be incurred.
Why haven’t I received a tax invoice or receipt following my online payment?
The invoice or receipt is sent to your nominated email address and can take up to 15 minutes before it is received. If you do not receive your invoice or receipt within this timeframe please contact the Accounts Receivable helpdesk on 1800 647 531.
I requested a copy of an invoice through the payment portal, which email will it go to?
Invoice copies requested through the online payment service will go the default email on your account. If you need to update the default email, or if you would like an invoice copy sent to a different email address, please contact AR Helpdesk (1800 647 531).
I have a statement and the invoice reference numbers are all different?
Yes, the invoice reference numbers have changed in the new finance system. In the old system the invoice had a reference number starting with ‘300’. In the new system, newly created invoices will have a number starting with ‘100’.
Can I pay a specific invoice or invoices?
If you need to pay a specific invoice or invoices, you will need to pay each invoice individually online using a credit card, or pay through BPAY. If you are paying multiple invoices on a regular basis, then you should consider paying your statement balance using EFT.
How do I take up credit on my account?
If there is an unallocated credit on your account, you will need to contact the AR Helpdesk to have the credit applied.
Can I still pay with a credit card over the phone?
In some exceptional circumstances, you will be able to pay over the phone with a credit card. If you do not have an account, invoice or a statement but need to make a one off payment, you can call 1800 647 531 and pay over the phone by credit card.
Payment Methods
Direct Deposit
Cheque
