NSW Agriculture Commissioner
Independent Agriculture Commissioner
In February 2025, Ms Alison Stone was appointed as the state’s first statutory Agriculture Commissioner on recommendation of the Minister.
Ms Stone has a combined 40 years’ of experience across primary industries, land use planning, rural advocacy, forestry, and infrastructure development, bringing invaluable expertise to this critical role.
A livestock farmer for 25 years, Ms Stone pairs her practical knowledge with an impressive track record in senior public service roles, which include Deputy Director General for Land, Natural Resources & Forestry at NSW DPI, Executive General Manager of Crown Lands, and First Assistant Secretary for Heritage & Wildlife at the Federal Department of Environment.
Her expertise also spans disaster resilience, response and recovery, where she recently led the co-design process for the DisasterWise Communities Network, making her well-equipped to navigate emergency management and other complex challenges that face NSW farming communities.
Alongside her wealth of policy experience, Ms Stone has served in a range of advisory roles across Australia, including the Australian Government’s Forest Industry Advisory Council, the Victorian Fisheries Co-Management Council and the NSW Regional Development Advisory Council, where she has helped inform the delivery of programs to support regional and rural communities.
As Agriculture Commissioner Ms Stone will serve an initial 3-year term focused on land use in productive landscapes, providing expert advice to government on agricultural matters including productivity, land use conflict and food security.
Agriculture Commissioner focus areas
The Commissioner will work across all levels of government to provide advice on how NSW can support its agriculture sector to help farmers to enhance productivity, seize new opportunities and overcome challenges faced now and into the future. The 4 priorities outlined below will guide the Commissioner’s initial workplan to deliver on her statutory responsibilities and areas of focus.
Farm Practices Panel
Pilot a NSW Farm Practices Panel as an approach to provide clarity and consistency for planning decisions and minimise land use conflicts between agricultural producers and rural neighbours.
The Agriculture Commissioner will Chair the Panel in reviewing an agricultural industry's Guideline or Code of Practice, and provide advice on the Panel's operation going forward.
Agricultural Land Use Mapping
Assist the NSW Government in developing an ongoing system for defining, identifying and mapping agricultural lands and their use throughout NSW.
Renewable Energy
Provide input and advice on the challenges and opportunities of delivering critical renewable energy infrastructure for the agriculture sector.
Work closely with the Net Zero Commission to promote a cohesive approach to policy making, ensuring agricultural matters are considered in policy development.
Coordination and collaboration across government
Promote a coordinated and collaborative approach across the Commonwealth Government, the NSW Government and local councils in relation to agricultural matters.
The role of the Agriculture Commissioner
The Agriculture Commissioner role was established under the Agriculture Commissioner Act 2024, in response (PDF, 99.11 KB) to a report (PDF, 1386.34 KB) delivered by former Agriculture Commissioner, Mr Daryl Quinlivan, to the NSW Government. The role’s primary purpose is to provide independent advice to government on strategic agricultural land use issues and support a more sustainable and productive agriculture industry in NSW.
Previous reports
The former NSW Agriculture Commissioner prepared two reports relating to land use conflict and agriculture:
- Improving the Prospects for Agriculture and Regional Australia in the NSW Planning System (PDF, 798.68 KB)
- Renewable energy generation and agriculture in NSW’s rural landscape and economy – growth sectors on a complementary path (PDF, 1754.26 KB)
- NSW Government response to both reports (PDF, 247.57 KB)
