In his address this morning to the ABARE Outlook 2010 conference, Mr Burke said he was convinced the APVMA was working under a framework that stifled its ability to effectively restrict dangerous chemicals or allow safe chemicals through quickly with a minimal amount of red tape.

While he did not have any details ready to be released today, he said that he was working with Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner and more information would be available shortly.

With an election looming, Mr Burke reflected on his past three years as Minister, claiming his dismantling of the single desk as a win for farmers, who were now able to sell their wheat to whoever they wanted instead of to the former monopoly buyer, AWB.

He also reiterated his justification behind allowing beef imports from BSE-affected countries, stating that biosecurity science showed there was no reason to prevent beef from such countries from entering the country, and that Australia's BSE-free status was not an excuse for protectionism.

Mr Burke again committed to drought policy reform, saying farmers had told him personally that the current system was hurting people because it offered little real assistance to producers while the interest rate subsidy actually aided the banks.

"Just because we are giving people money doesn't mean we are doing them a favour," he said.