In a shock announcement made public today, the 10-year tenure of Scott Hansen as director general of the NSW Department of Primary Industries has come to an end, coincidentally on the anniversary of when Mr Hansen was offered the position in January 2014.
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The Land understands the secretary of the Department of Regional NSW (DRNSW) Rebecca Fox made the decision to terminate Mr Hansen upon the completion of a review of the departments which sit within the Regional NSW cluster, including the NSW Department of Primary Industries.
Through the decade, having worked with five agriculture/primary industries ministers, Mr Hansen made a substantial contribution to assisting the state's producers and communities through difficult times, including droughts, COVID-19, fires, floods, and biosecurity incidents.
In working with ministers Katrina Hodgkinson (2014-15), Niall Blair (2015-2019), Adam Marshall (2019-2021), Dugald Saunders (2021-2023) and Tara Moriarty (2023), Mr Hansen played a major role in supporting the establishment of the newly formed Local Land Services, introducing the Marine Estate Management Act 2014, introducing the Biosecurity Act 2015, securing $150m for investment into NSW DPI research stations, introducing the Right to Farm Act 2019, amending the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979, battling a Japanese encephalitis disease outbreak and Varroa mite in bees, preparing for a potential foot and mouth disease or lumpy skin disease incursion, and creating a legislated Independent Biosecurity Commissioner for NSW with the Biosecurity Amendment (Independent Biosecurity Commissioner) Bill 2023.
All while assisting to grow NSW producers' gross value of production to the largest on record.
The Land has seen a letter Mr Hansen sent out to the more than 2500 staff at NSW DPI, in which he notified them of his termination and thanked them for their support.
The letter also said Mr Hansen believes his achievements were only possible through the work of the dedicated team in NSW DPI.
"The secretary of regional NSW advised me that she is finalising the Functional Review of the Department of Regional NSW and will be making changes to the department, which include changes to the leadership team. As such I will be leaving the department with effect today," the letter said.
"For all the highlights over the 10 years, and there are many, the best have been the friendships and connections made.
"Ten years in one role is testament to how much I have enjoyed getting up each day to work with you to help make primary industries stronger.
"My passion is primary industries and the people that comprise it across the country."
Shadow minister questions DPI future
Shadow Minister for Agriculture Dugald Saunders has questioned the move to replace Mr Hansen as director general of the DPI, saying the NSW Government has "a complete disregard for regional communities".
"I want to firstly thank Mr Hansen for his incredible service after 10 years in the job," Mr Saunders said.
"The work DPI does for regional NSW is immeasurable. It is disappointing to see Mr Hansen go, and I am thankful I was able to work closely with him during my time as Agriculture Minister.
"There are some serious questions that must be asked of the Minns Labor Government around Mr Hansen's sudden departure from the role, and also about the future of DPI and the Department of Regional NSW (DRNSW).
"It is no secret that Chris Minns' Government has a complete disregard for regional communities and that the needs of those communities are simply not a priority."
Mr Saunders is calling for an understanding of what the DPI will look like in the future.
"I am calling on the Government to provide clarity around what its review of DPI and DRNSW will look like and to also guarantee that DPI will remain its own entity and not be absorbed by the DRNSW," he said.
"Today's news raises concerns for both departments and for every resident living in the bush, and we need the Premier to step up and provide certainty."
Ms Fox and the Department of Regional NSW have so far failed to outline how the changes to leadership affect the structure of the NSW DPI or why the changes were made.
A spokesperson for the DRNSW said it remains committed to providing high quality service to primary industries.
"The secretary of the Department of Regional NSW has made changes to the leadership arrangements at the DPI," the spokesperson said.
"The department thanks Mr Hansen for his service and significant commitment through some of the toughest conditions NSW's primary producers and our regional communities have faced during the past 10 years.
"The DRNSW remains committed to delivering high quality services to primary industries across regional NSW and will look to bolster leadership for primary industries over the coming months.
"Mr Sean Sloan, current deputy director general fisheries, will act in the role on an interim basis."
