As Minister for Agriculture, he was the first to realise that the most important function of the department was to educate the farmer. Swinburne was mainly responsible for the foundation of chairs in agricultural science and veterinary science at the University of Melbourne, although the latter chair has since been abandoned.
Swinburne, as Minister of Agriculture, prioritized education for farmers. He established chairs in agricultural science and veterinary science at the University of Melbourne, though the latter chair has since been discontinued.