NSW Nationals Leader Dugald Saunders has promised to make the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) its own separate business unit again. 

As of July 1, Condobolin-born Rebecca Fox left her role as secretary of the Department of Regional NSW with the Department restructured and renamed the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.  

Current chief executive officer of Local Land Services, Steve Orr is the new department’s secretary.

The NSW Government said the restructure was a reflection of new objectives. "It reflects the twin objectives of growing our primary industries through greater focus on extension services, research and development and supporting regional economic development."

Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty endorsed the changes. “Under new leadership, the department will now focus on our key priorities of protecting, supporting, and developing regional NSW. The focus on biosecurity and agriculture will be boosted and the rollout of the new $350 million Regional Development Trust and the review of the Regional Development Act will be elevated,” 

”Agriculture and biosecurity have become a paired portfolio, reflecting the growing interconnectedness of the biosecurity and farming sectors," she said.

Tara Moriarty. Image: NSW Labor. 

But not everyone is happy about the restructure, with Member for Dubbo, Dugald Saunders labelling the changes unfair, unreasonable and unnecessary.

Mr Saunders made the remarks during an address at the NSW Farmers' Conference last week, warning that the DPI is being watered down.

“The DPI needs autonomy, and we have shown that’s what works best as we go through the cycle of droughts, floods, fires and major biosecurity outbreaks,” he said. 

“The new joint department is also being coordinated by the Premier’s office in Sydney, which completely misses the point, because having people who live and work in the regions – supporting the regions – is crucial to giving our communities the voice they need and deserve.” 

Mr Saunders raised concerns over changes to Local Land Services (LLS) which has seen the pay allocated to Local Board Members and the Chair cut by about two thirds under the current Government. 

“The reality is LLS is being downsized, and again there’s too much control from Macquarie Street, which means at some point the 'local' part we all know works really well will be a distant memory."