Industry Funding Schemes

The three Industry Funding Schemes (IFS) of Cattle; Grains, Seeds and Hay; and Sheep and Goat; commenced on 1 July 2010. The Schemes use funding arrangements authorised under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 (BAM Act) to allow industry to raise funds to address priority pest and disease threats relevant to these industries.

An Industry Management Committee oversees the management of each Scheme. Members of the committees include participants in the Schemes (that is, producers), appointed by the Minister for Agriculture and Food.

In consultation with industry, the Management Committees determine which priority pest and disease threats require action and what IFS contributions will be needed from industry to tackle the problem. This allows producers to raise funds to self-manage priority pests and diseases that may affect the viability and sustainability of their industries

Priority pests and diseases addressed by an IFS must be a declared pest in Western Australia. This means that they have been declared under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 (BAM Act) and registered on the Western Australian Organism List (WAOL).

IFS contributions can be allocated by the Industry Management Committee to programs that address the priority pest/disease in terms of control; research and development for advancement of control; and/or compensation.

The regulations enabling the Industry Funding Schemes are available at the Western Australian Legislation website.

IFS Regulations

• Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Industry Funding Scheme (Cattle) Regulations 2010

• Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Industry Funding Scheme (Grains) Regulations 2010

• Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Industry Funding Scheme (Sheep and Goats) Regulations 2010

Western Australian producers and others involved in the beef, dairy, grain, seed, hay, sheep and goat industries or supply chains are encouraged to apply for IFS Committee positions.

Guidelines for expressions of interest and the selection criteria can be found here.

Both the IFS and RBGs work to address biosecurity concerns in Western Australia.

IFS: The Cattle IFS; and Sheep and Goat IFS operate statewide. The Grains, Seeds and Hay IFS operate in the agricultural areas of WA*. These three schemes are funded by industry, for industry, through IFS contributions raised by producers, to fund programs to self-manage priority pests and disease that could impact their industry.

RBG: Recognised Biosecurity Groups (RBGs) are community-based biosecurity groups that help landholders manage declared pests on their properties. Each RBG operates across a local government area/s, and combined, cover most of the geography of the State. Recognised Biosecurity Groups (RBGs) focus on localised challenges and are funded through a land-based rating scheme with funds raised matched by the WA Government. RBG’s tailor their efforts to the needs of their specific geographic area and community.

* Agricultural areas defined to include all local government districts of WA except for those comprising the Kimberley (Broome, Halls Creek, Derby-West Kimberley and Wyndham-East Kimberley) and the pastoral area (Ashburton, Carnarvon, Coolgardie, Cue, Dundas, East Pilbara, Exmouth, Laverton, Leonora, Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Meekatharra, Menzies, Mount Magnet, Murchison, Ngaanyatjarraku, Port Hedland, City of Karratha, Roebourne, Sandstone, Shark Bay, Upper Gascoyne, Wiluna and Yalgoo).

IFS contributions are mandatory in the first instance.

Producers who wish to opt out of the Industry Funding Schemes must do so each year. A formal ‘Notice to opt out form’ must be completed and submitted to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development between 1 to 30 June.

Producers who decide to opt out lose all entitlements to assistance and compensation via the Scheme. They are also required under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 to manage the pests and diseases to which the Scheme relates at their own expense.

See Opting Out for details.