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Scientific Advisory Group for the Atherton Tablelands - terms of reference
Background
The Honourable Tim Mulherin, MP, Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland announced a fresh approach to growing Queensland's primary industries in a speech to a Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) forum in Townsville on 24 June 2008.
The Fresh Approach Initiative refocuses the way Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries (QPIF), part of the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (formerly the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries), works to achieve the vision of a $34 billion industry by 2020 - almost three-times today's value.
The Fresh Approach is based around three pillars:
- building skills for our future
- delivering innovative research partnerships to grow investment
- networking and modernising services.
The Minister used his CEDA address to outline his vision for the Atherton Tablelands. Central to plans is to have one purpose-built facility on the Tablelands, which capitalises on the uniqueness of the Tablelands and its potential for economic growth and potential opportunities such as molecular bio-pharming, value-added food products and tropical products.
The facility would replace the Australian Agricultural College Corporation's (AACC) Mareeba campus and the ageing facilities of Kairi, Walkamin and Southedge. To this end, the Minister has committed to an independent review to assess a location for a purpose-built facility and its functionality. This review will include detailed consultation with staff, industry and the community. As the Minister stated in his address to CEDA, the facility on the Tablelands could be at a new or one of the above existing sites.
Role
As part of the overall review, a Scientific Advisory Group (SAG) will also be established for approximately a three-month period. The role of the group will include:
- providing technical and expert advice to the independent consultancy team as required
- providing science-based advice on industry, staff or stakeholder submissions as requested by the independent consultancy team
- advising the independent consultancy team on the current and future research and development (R&D) needs on the Atherton Tablelands
- providing scientific advice to the Tablelands staff working group if necessary
- coordinating input into the review from the wider science community if required by the independent consultancy team
- providing advice to the independent consultancy team on the attributes and facility needs at a site located on the Atherton Tablelands to facilitate current and future research needs.
Composition
The composition of the SAG will comprise a mix of university R&D expertise and QPIF research, development and extension (RD&E) scientists, RD&E-program investors with expertise primarily relating to plant and animal science and the national research and development framework.
Meetings
The SAG will meet on an as-needs basis as requested by the independent consultancy team. The independent consultancy team may also seek specific scientific or technical advice from individual members of the SAG as required.
Reporting
Advice provided by the SAG will be reported directly to the independent consultancy team.
