Collection of Contributions

All sheep owners in the State contribute $0.40 per head to the Sheep Industry Fund where five or more sheep are sold for $5.00 or more per head.

Contributions to the Fund are collected by stock firms and abattoirs on behalf of sheep owners in the State, and forwarded to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries. The Minister acts as the administrator of the Fund. The SA Sheep Advisory Group makes recommendations to the Minister on spending priorities for the Fund.

Although contributions to the fund are collected on a compulsory basis from all sheep owners, a refund of contributions paid is permitted. A sheep owner seeking a refund of contributions is required to submit a Request for Refund form, and provide documentary evidence that the contribution was paid. A tax invoice that indicates that the contribution has been deducted is usually adequate evidence.

Contributors to the Fund whose contributions are refunded are deemed to be in default of the regulations and are not entitled to any direct service or benefit funded by contributions for a period of two years. For example, the Fund subsidises OJD vaccine for those producers with infected flocks (100% subsidy) or who are neighbours to infected flocks (50% subsidy). If a person obtained a refund of contributions in the previous two years, they would be ineligible for any subsidy or other benefit from the Fund.

Interstate sheep owners who have sold sheep in South Australia may also be eligible for a refund. Contributions to the Fund will be indicated on the Account Sales docket provided by the selling agent and listed as "South Australian Sheep Industry Transaction Levy" or similar. A sheep owner seeking a refund of contributions is required to submit a Request for Refund - Interstate form, and provide documentary evidence that the contribution was paid. A tax invoice that indicates that the contribution has been deducted is usually adequate evidence. Please note that the National Sheep / Lamb transaction levy is not refundable.