For the purposes of reporting on operations in 1999–2000, RIRDC had three organisations prescribed by section 7 of its legislation. This requires RIRDC to report on its activities each financial period. This accountability runs parallel to RIRDC’s Annual Report to the Minister and the Parliament. Reporting during 1999–2000 occurred as follows:
 

• National Farmers’ Federation on 2 November 1999
• Australian Egg Industry Association on 14 October 1999
• The Australian Chicken Meat Federation on 27 October 1999 and 31 May 2000

RIRDC’s reporting to these three prescribed bodies was done when industry meetings were being held for their own purposes. The Corporation made no payments towards the costs of these meetings.

On 11 September and 25 March 2000 the Corporation reported to the Deer Industry Association of Australia on the operations of Sub-Program 2.4: Deer. The cost of these consultations to the Corporation was near $8000.

The Corporation consulted with the following seven industry bodies in the preparation of this Annual Operational Plan 2000–2001:

• National Farmers’ Federation
• Australian Egg Industry Association
• Australian Chicken Meat Federation Incorporated
• Australian Horse Industry Council
• Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia
• Australian Honey Bee Industry Council
• Deer Industry Association of Australia.

Our intention is to continue using industry meetings for reporting purposes. The costs of this approach are minimised but an amount of up to $10 000 has been set aside in the 2000–2001 ‘Corporate’ budget of nearly $0.6 million to meet any costs that may arise in this process.

V. Accountability Framework

VI. Corporate Charter

• Fostering the development of new industries – both prospective and emerging.

• Managing research and development investments for established industries.

• Developing a research program which addresses important strategic, cross-sectoral issues facing the rural sector.

The Board
 

• Sets strategic direction and establishes policies for the Corporation.

• Oversights operational and functional performance against budget and other key performance indicators on behalf of stakeholders.

Stakeholders
 

• The Federal Government on behalf of rural industries and taxpayers.

• Industry funders.

Primary Clients
 

• For RIRDC related industries, all participants in the marketing chain (producers, processors, distributors and consumers).

• On RIRDC’s strategic cross-sectoral program, the National Farmers’ Federation on behalf of all rural industries.

Industry Consultations
 

• Communications channels between RIRDC and rural industries meet two essential functions – accountability and bringing industry influence to bear on the research agenda.

• At the peak industry level, the Corporation is accountable to:

• National Farmers’ Federation

• Australian Chicken Meat Federation

• Australian Egg Industry Association

• All of the research programs and sub-programs have reference steering committees with stakeholder membership.

Reporting to Stakeholders
 

• There are four key accountability documents for stakeholders:

• A Five Year Strategic Plan which sets out strategies, directions and performance indicators for the Corporation.

• Five Year Industry Plans for each industry sub-program within emerging industries and established industries.

• An Annual Operational Plan which sets out yearly objectives to give effect to the Five Year Strategic Plan, the Five Year Industry Plans, the annual budget and annual research priorities.

• The Annual Report which sets out achievements against objectives, budgets and administration costs.

VII. RIRDC Research Managers

Agroforestry & Farm Forestry
Research Manager: Roslyn Prinsley
phone: 02 6271 4033, email: roslynp@rirdc.gov.au

Asian Foods
Research Manager: Tony Byrne
phone: 02 6272 5472, email: tonyb@rirdc.gov.au

Chicken Meat
Research Manager: Vivien Kite
phone: 02 9929 4077, email: vivienk@rirdc.gov.au

Deer
Research Manager: Peter Core
phone: 02 6272 5920, email: peterc@rirdc.gov.au

Eggs
Research Manager: Irene Gorman
phone: 02 9570 9222, email: ireneg@rirdc.gov.au

Essential Oils and Plant Extracts
Research Manager: Tony Byrne
phone: 02 6272 5472, email: tonyb@rirdc.gov.au

Fodder Crops
Research Manager: Jeff Davis
phone: 02 6272 4152, email: jeffd@rirdc.gov.au

Global Competitiveness
Research Manager: Jeff Davis
phone: 02 6272 4152, email: jeffd@rirdc.gov.au

Honeybee
Research Manager: Jeff Davis
phone: 02 6272 4152, email: jeffd@rirdc.gov.au

Horses
Research Manager: Reuben Rose
phone: 02 9351 6935, email: rjrose@camden.usyd.edu.au

Human Capital, Communication & Information Systems
Research Manager: Roslyn Prinsley
phone: 02 6271 4033, email: roslynp@rirdc.gov.au

New Animal Products
Research Manager: Peter McInnes
phone: 08 8556 7331, email: mcinnes2@intertech.net.au

New Plant Products
Research Manager: David Evans
phone: 02 4454 3039, email:davide@shoalhaven.net.au

Organic Produce
Denise Millar
Ph: (03) 9882 5910, fax: (02) 9882 5917
Mobile: 0419 599 294, Email: denise.millar@bigpond.com
Address: PO Box 4776, KINGSTON ACT 2604

Pasture Seeds
Research Manager: Jeff Davis
phone: 02 6272 4152, email: jeffd@rirdc.gov.au

Rare and Natural Fibres
Research Manager: Peter McInnes
phone: 08 8556 7331, email: mcinnes2@intertech.net.au

Resilient Agricultural Systems
Research Manager: George Wilson
phone: 02 6281 2160, email: george.wilson@awt.com.au

Rice
Research Manager: Jeff Davis
phone: 02 6272 4152, email: jeffd@rirdc.gov.au

Tea Tree Oil
Research Manager: Roslyn Prinsley
phone: 02 6271 4033, email: roslynp@rirdc.gov.au

Wildflower & Native Plants
Research Manager: David Evans
phone: 02 4454 3039, email:davide@shoalhaven.net.au

VIII. RIRDC R&D Advisory Committees

Joint Corporation Agroforestry Committee
Chair: Mr Alex Campbell   (phone 08 9853 2070)

Chicken Meat Research and Development Committee
Chair: Dr Mike Taverner   (phone 02 6248 0364)

Deer Industry Research and Development Committee
Chair: Ms Nola Anderson   (phone 03 9642 8044)

Egg Industry Research and Development Committee
Chair: Dr Mike Taverner   (phone 02 6248 0364)

Equine Research and Development Committee
Chair: Ms Jane Vincent   (phone 02 6277 4624)

Fodder Industry Research and Development Committee
Chair: Mr Bill Gough   (phone 03 5578 6284)

Honeybee Research and Development Committee
Chair: Mr Keith McIlvride   (phone 02 4681 8556)

Rare and Natural Fibres Research and Development Committee
Chair: Mr Alan Smith   (phone 08 9332 8783)

Rice Research and Development Committee
Chair: Mr Norm McAllister  (phone 03 5882 4216)

Organic Produce Research and Development Committee
Chair: Mr Ewan Colquhoun  (phone 07 3831 7330)

Pasture Seeds Research and Development Committee
Chair: Mr Hugh Roberts  (phone 02 69 421 184)

Tea Tree Oil Research and Development Committee
Chair: Ms Pat Bolster (phone 02 6674 2991)

Wildflower & Native Plants Research and Development Committee
Chair: Mr Denis Tricks  (phone 03 9598 5151)
 

Internal Auditors  - Acumen Alliance/Stanton Partners
External Auditors - Australian National Audit Office