Overview of the Sheep and Goats Industry Funding Scheme
In June 2010, the Sheep and Goats Biosecurity Industry Funding Scheme (IFS) was introduced to address biosecurity threats relevant to the Western Australian sheep and goat industries. The Scheme was established under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 (BAM Act) as a mechanism to enable sheep and goat producers to identify the pest and disease priorities at a whole-of-industry level, and then to raise funds for programs that address these priorities.
Funds are raised through a producer contribution on each chargeable sale. A ‘chargeable sale’ means a sale by the owner of sheep or goats (live or carcasses) that are located on a property within the Schemes’ area of operation or moved from the property for the purpose of offering them for sale/slaughter.
Producers do not have to participate in the Scheme — there is a mechanism that allows them to ‘opt out’. Opting out does not remove the legal requirement to deal with the pests and diseases to which the Scheme relates, but does disqualify the producer from any benefits provided by the Scheme such as assistance and compensation.
The Sheep and Goats IFS is overseen by a seven-member Industry Management Committee (IMC). The Minister for Agriculture and Food appoints the IMC members after inviting industry nominations and receiving advice from an Industry Appointments Committee. As required by regulation, the majority of the IMC are full participants of the Sheep and Goats IFS.
The IMC is responsible for approving the biosecurity-related programs funded through the Scheme, and providing advice to the Minister on the Scheme’s area of operation and the contribution rate.
The state government, through the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA), provide the necessary support to ensure proper governance and the effective operation of the Scheme and IMC. This includes secretariat, communications, policy and technical support, as well as financial management. Furthermore, the normal regulatory inspection and compliance activities undertaken by DAFWA closely complement the priorities of the IMC.
2013/14 Sheep and Goats IFS at a glance
- contributions of 12 cents per head/carcass produced in Western Australia
- contributions totalling $853 597 were received
- contributions were used to fund a program to control virulent footrot
- the total cost of the control program was $498 999
- committee costs totalled $11 237
- six producers opted-out of the Scheme, and applied for refunds of their contributions totalling $4873.