Industry Funds

The Primary Industry Funding Schemes Act 1998 enables primary industries with a mechanism to generate resources for industry development activities.

A funding scheme is established by regulation. Industry participants bound by the regulations are required to contribute to a Fund but may seek a refund of their contributions. Collection agents are required to collect contributions and remit them to the Administrator of the Fund (the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries).

Industry Funds have been established for the following livestock industries:


Each fund must be supported by the industry. Although the Minister is responsible, each industry must lead the process of developing a proposal for a Fund, and then arranging for delivery of services to the industry.

Requirements of the industry group for each Fund include:

  • Preparation of a 5-year management plan which is revised annually.
  • Preparation of an annual operating plan detailing proposed expenditure.
  • Preparation of reports on the operation of the fund.

How the Fund is Spent

Contributions to each Fund are applied for the benefit of the industry as determined in the Regulations. For example, the South Australian Sheep Industry Fund may be applied as follows:

  1. Payment of contributions to the Dog Fence Board towards the maintenance or improvement of the dog-proof fence to assist in the prevention of wild dogs entering pastoral areas where sheep are kept
  2. Payments for financial assistance or ex gratia payments authorised under Part 3 (of the regulations – financial assistance payments in relation to Johne’s disease)
  3. The undertaking of programs relating to sheep, sheep products or any other aspect of the sheep industry recommended to the Minister by the Sheep Advisory Group
  4. Repayment of contributions to the Fund under regulation 6
  5. Payment of the reasonable operation and management expenses of the Sheep Advisory Group (whether sitting as the Sheep Advisory Group under the Livestock Act 1997 or as the consultative committee under the Primary Industry Funding Schemes (Sheep Industry Fund) Regulations 1999

Contributions to the Fund

Each Livestock Industry Fund operates independently with the support of the members of the respective livestock industries. The amount of contribution payable varies between the livestock industries, and is determined by the respective industry.

Funds are released for project work following recommendations being provided to the Minister by the respective livestock advisory groups. For more details please refer to information for the Apiary, Cattle, Deer, Pig or Sheep Industry Funds.

Ministerial Responsibilities

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries also prepares an annual report incorporating the audited financial statement for each Fund and tables these reports in both Houses of the South Australian Parliament.

Contact Details

For further information on the Primary Industry Funding Schemes Act, or any of the Livestock Industry Funds, please contact:

Ms Karen Greenhalgh
Senior Administration Officer
PIRSA Animal Health
33 Flemington Street GLENSIDE SA 5065

Phone: 08 8207 7959
Fax: 08 8207 7852