The Schemes commenced operation on 1 July 2010. The Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 (BAM Act) makes provision for industry contributions to be collected and disbursed on behalf of these Schemes.
The three Schemes currently established are the:
Expressions of Interest for IFS Committee membership now open
Expressions of interest (EOI) to be appointed as a Committee Member of the Industry Funding Scheme (IFS) Management Committees opened 1 April 2025 and close at 8:00pm on 12 May 2025.
The Industry Funding Scheme (IFS) addresses agricultural pest and disease threats in Western Australia that align with industry priorities. An Industry Management Committee (IMC) consists of dedicated producers and growers who manage the three IFS schemes.
There are currently vacancies on the following committees:
- Sheep and Goat Industry Funding Scheme Management Committee
- The Sheep & Goat IFS has 2 vacancies for producers and/or supply chain representatives. Experience with Skeleton Weed is highly desirable.
- Grains, Seeds and Hay Industry Funding Scheme Management Committee
- Grains IFS has 1 vacancy for a producer, preferably with experience in footrot management.
- Cattle Industry Funding Scheme Management Committee
- The Cattle IFS is accepting expressions of interest for future opportunities.
Western Australian producers, growers, and industry stakeholders involved in the beef, dairy, grain, seed, hay, sheep and/or goat industries or supply chains are encouraged to apply.
Read the following document for the application guidelines, selection criteria, and the terms of reference for the IFS Management Committee.
How the Industry Funding Schemes operate
An Industry Management Committee (IMC) oversees the management of each Scheme. The Minister for Agriculture and Food appoints the members of each IMC who must be participants in the relevant Scheme.
Producers pay a small contribution rate per tonne of produce or per head of livestock sold. Funds raised go towards combating priority pests and diseases that may affect the viability and sustainability of their industries. Contributions are mandatory in the first instance, but a producer can choose to opt out and apply to have their annual contribution refunded in full. Producers who opt out lose all entitlements to assistance and compensation via the Scheme.
Participants in a Scheme are entitled to benefits such as assistance and compensation (in qualifying circumstances) relating to the priority pests and/or diseases being addressed by the Scheme.
Each IFS is overseen by a five to seven-member IMC. Committee members are producers or others involved in the beef, dairy, grain/seed, hay, sheep or goat industries or supply chains.
The committee works in conjunction with industry to determine:
- which priority pest and disease threats require action.
- how best to deal with the threats.
- what contributions will be needed from industry to tackle the problem.
The IMC advises the Director General on the administration of the IFS account and provide recommendations to the Minister of Agriculture and Food on the Schemes area of operation, contribution rate and priority pests.
The IMC meets quarterly in person. Committee decisions are also made out-of-session, as required, by email or by online meetings.
Register your interest
WA producers and others involved in the beef, dairy, grain, seed, hay, sheep and/or goat industries or supply chains are encouraged to get involved.
The department administers the BAM Act and regulations enabling the Schemes. These are available from the Western Australian Legislation website.
The IMC makes recommendations to the Minister on an IFS areas of operation, contribution rates and priority pests, with due consideration to the costs of the IFS-funded pest and disease programs, the balance of industry funds held within the IFS Accounts and industry expectations on the use of funds to address pest and disease issues.
The IFSs were established on 1 July 2010 and the contribution rates are reviewed annually.
Notice of the annual Schemes is published in the Western Australian Governement Gazette.
IFS contributions are collected from producers by:
- ‘registered receivers’ for the sale of grains, seeds and hay,
- stock agents and processors for the sale of cattle, sheep and goats, and
- producers selling cattle, sheep or goats to someone other than a processor or via a stock agent are responsible for paying the contributions direct to the department.
Refer to information under your specific Scheme for how contributions are reported.
Producers can opt out of the relevant Scheme/s. Opting out of the Schemes does not negate the producer's responsibility to address pest and disease issues on their property.
Producers who decide to opt out lose all entitlements to assistance and compensation via the Scheme. They are also required under the BAM Act to manage the pests and diseases to which the Scheme relates wholly at their own expense.
After opting out, producers need to contribute to the Scheme/s for at least two consecutive years (depending on the number of years for which the producer had opted out) before they can regain eligibility for any Scheme assistance or compensation.
Producers wanting to opt out must do so each year between 1-30 June immediately prior to the financial year for which they want to opt out (for example, opt out in June 2025 for the 2025-26 financial year).
To opt out, producers must provide notice to the department. This can be done by completing a 'Notice of opt out form' and sending this to the department.
Completed forms must be lodged with the department between 1 June and 30 June each year. Forms received outside these dates or incomplete forms cannot be accepted.
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Notice of opt out form (Word)docx (171 KB)
Producers that have opted out continue to pay contributions during that year and can then apply for a refund of contributions paid during the nominated opt out year.
To receive the refund, producers must submit the Refund of Contributions form and evidence of the payment of contributions to the department. The form and evidence must be received by 31 July immediately following the financial year for which they had opted out (for example, form received by 31 July 2025 for a refund of contributions paid during 2024-25).
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IFS Refund of Contributions (Word)docx (39 KB)
Each Scheme may periodically invite Expressions of Interest (EOI) for research grant funding. The IFS grants are provided through an open, competitive program that encourages industry participation and collaboration to meet the research priorities of industry, supporting sustainability, increased production, innovation, health, and welfare. Refer to the relevant IFS for information on funding opportunities and previously funded research projects.
Each IFS provides an annual report on the year’s activities.
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Industry Funding Scheme regulations: An independent review of the regulations, operation and effectiveness 2016pdf (842 KB)
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An independent review of the Western Australian industry funded biosecurity management Schemes 2012pdf (1.11 MB)
Cattle IFS
The Cattle IFS was established to address biosecurity threats relevant to the WA cattle industry. The Scheme operates across the whole of WA.
A 20-cent contribution on the sale of all cattle/carcasses produced within WA is payable to fund surveillance programs for Johne’s disease in cattle, bovine tuberculosis and enzootic bovine leucosis, and may also be used to manage potential future incursions of other pests and diseases.
The Cattle IFS is overseen by an Industry Management Committee (IMC):
- David Jarvie - Chair (Metro)
- Tamara Michalek - Deputy (Gidgegannup)
- Wendy Brockhurst - Committee (Fitzroy Crossing)
- Christopher Wyhoon - Committee (Bakers Hill)
- Philip Hall - Committee (Harvey)
- Robert McFerran - Committee (Cowaramup)
- Elise Woods - Committee (Calingiri)
Research grants are available for application by Expression of Interest for projects that will benefit the WA cattle industry.
Competitive funding rounds usually take place annually for cattle research and development projects that aim to:
- increase productivity
- increase profitability
- help develop sustainable industry practice
- promote market success
- enhance industry capability
- improve cattle health.
Information on available funding opportunities, and current and previous research projects is available at the IFS website.
When animals are sold via stock agents or to processors, the stock agent/processor is required to deduct and forward IFS contributions on behalf of the producer.
The owner of any animal sold to someone other than a processor or via a stock agent is responsible for paying the required contributions direct to the IFS.
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Cattle IFS remittance form 2023-24docx (77 KB)
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Cattle IFS remittance form 2024-25docx (81 KB)
Sheep and Goat IFS
The Sheep and Goat IFS was established to address biosecurity threats relevant to the WA sheep and goat industry. The Scheme operates across the whole of WA.
A 17-cent contribution on the sale of every sheep and goat (live or carcasses) produced within WA is payable to fund programs to control virulent footrot and wild dogs and may also be used to manage potential future incursions of other pests and diseases that are a priority to the WA sheep/goat industry.
The Sheep and Goat IFS is overseen by an Industry Management Committee:
- Maria Griffiths - Chair (Nangetty)
- Jim Sullivan - Committee (Holt Rock)
- Amanda Day - Committee (Esperance)
- Caroline Jacobson - Committee (Murdoch)
- John Moyes - Committee (Yornup)
- Michael Campbell - Committee (Gairdner)
- Matthew Nield - Committee (Augusta)
The Sheep and Goat IFS have recently finalised EOI grant funding.
Future opportunities for competitive grants will be advertised as they become available.
When animals are sold via stock agents or to processors, the stock agent/processor is required to deduct and forward IFS contributions on behalf of the producer.
The owner of any animal sold to someone other than a processor or via a stock agent is responsible for paying the required contributions direct to the IFS.
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Sheep and Goat IFS remittance form 2023-24docx (80 KB)
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Sheep and Goat IFS remittance form 2024-25docx (84 KB)
Grains, Seeds, and Hay IFS
The Grains, Seeds and Hay IFS was established to address biosecurity threats relevant to the WA grains, seeds, and hay industry. The Scheme operates in the agricultural areas of WA.
The Scheme collects the following IFS contributions from growers: 25 cents per tonne of grain and seed, and 12.5 cents per tonne of hay. The contribution applies only to the first sale of produce grown in the agricultural areas of WA.
The contributions fund programs to manage skeleton weed and eradicate three-horned bedstraw and may also be used to manage potential future incursions of other pests and diseases that are a priority to the industry.
The Grains, Seeds and Hay IFS is overseen by an Industry Management Committee (IMC):
- Peter Harkness - Chair (Esperance)
- Hellene McTaggart - Deputy (Mingenew)
- Jules Alvaro - Committee (Merredin)
- Judith Foss - Committee (Bruce Rock)
- Michael Dagostino - Committee (Harvey)
- Paul Kelly - Committee (Mingenew)
Agricultural areas 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, Roebourne, Sandstone, Shark Bay, Upper Gascoyne, Wiluna and Yalgoo).
Every individual/entity purchasing or receiving 500 tonnes or more of grain/seed/hay (in combination) in a given financial year is required to register with the department.
These 'registered receivers' are responsible for deducting and forwarding IFS contributions on behalf of growers to the department.
To become a 'registered receiver' complete and submit a Grains IFS remittance form and email to Financereceivables@dpird.wa.gov.au.
DPIRD will register your company when you submit the IFS remittance form.
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Grains and Seed IFS remittance form 2023-24docx (77 KB)
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Grains and Seed IFS remittance form 2024-25docx (80 KB)
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Hay IFS remittance form 2023-24docx (78 KB)
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Hay IFS remittance form 2024-25docx (82 KB)