altered oil content, altered grain composition DIR-150 Queensland University of Technology Potato Disease resistance Limited and controlled 20-7-2016 20-2-2017 DIR-149 Nuseed Pty Ltd Indian mustard Altered oil content Limited and controlled 19-7-2016 14-2-2017 DIR-148 Sanofi-Aventis Australia Pty Ltd Dengue vaccine Attenuation General and commercial 4-7-2016 27-6-2017 DIR-147 Monsanto Australia Limited Cotton Insect resistance Limited and controlled 30-6-2016 23-1-2017 DIR-146 Queensland University of Technology Banana Disease resistance Limited and controlled 16-6-2016 13-12-2016 DIR-145 Monsanto Australia Limited Cotton Herbicide tolerance and insect resistance General and commercial 3-2-2016 20-12-2016 DIR-144 Clinical Network Services (CNS) Pty Ltd Influenza virus Attenuation, codon deoptimisation Limited and controlled 22-12-2015 1-8-2016 DIR-143 Bayer CropScience Pty Ltd Cotton Herbicide tolerance and insect resistance General and commercial 16-12-2015 8-12-2016 DIR = dealing involving intentional release of a genetically modified organism into the environment Figure 3: Types of organisations issued with DIR licences since commencement of the Gene Technology Act 2000 Licences for dealings not involving intentional release of GMOs DNIR licences authorise dealings with GMOs that are conducted in laboratories and other physical containment facilities and may pose risks that require management through specific licence conditions. In 2016–17, 10 DNIR licences were approved (see Table 5). All approvals were made within the statutory time limit. One DNIR application was in progress at 30 June 2017.
OGTR staff can access professional development opportunities through the department’s performance development scheme. At the beginning of each 12-month cycle, all employees and their managers agree on key commitments for the employee’s professional development, and the associated performance measures and development requirements. In 2016–17, refresher training was given to the emergency control team, which comprises a floor warden and two fire wardens. Members of the emergency control team are On completion of the required training, they receive an allowance in accordance with the Enterprise Agreement. Tables 28 and 29 show the staff training and development activities conducted in 2016–17. During 2016–17, the OGTR Legal Officer conducted introductory and ongoing training for OGTR staff on legal issues (Table 28). Table 28: Internal training presentations on legal issues, 2016–17 October 2016 Confidential commercial information November 2016 Conflicts of interest March 2017 Introduction to the Australian legal system March 2017 Information disclosure March 2017 Who are the regulators? May 2017 The Commonwealth public interest disclosure scheme June 2017 Complaint handling and the Commonwealth Ombudsman The OGTR Forum provides a venue where presentations are made by visiting experts, and staff share current information on scientific and risk assessment issues, summaries of recent conferences, and feedback from international meetings. A range of OGTR staff and guest speakers made presentations at the OGTR Forum in 2016–17 (Table 29). 29: Presentations at the OGTR Forum, 2016–17 July 2016 Evidence for decision-making and risk analysis. Dr Michael Dornbusch July 2016 Communication—writing reports and other documents. Dr Michael Dornbusch August 2016 Assessment endpoints—what are they and where do we get them? Dr Michael Dornbusch