Primary Industries Funding Schemes (PIFS)
About PIFS
The Primary Industry Funding Schemes Act 1998 was established to give industries a voluntary mechanism to collect funds to address:
- state-based issues
- internal market failures
- uptake of new technology
- sustainable economic development.
There are 14 funding schemes established by regulations under the Act in a number of industries. The Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development is the Administrator of the funds, and the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) manages the funds on their behalf.
Changing regulations
Should industry wish to make changes to the regulations governing their fund, they need to provide evidence that there is support for the proposed changes.
The Primary Industry Funding Schemes (PIFS) consultation guidelines ( ) can be used as a framework for undertaking this consultation on any proposed changes.
Details of those in default
Contributors to funding schemes can request a refund of their contributions (refer to the relevant fund page) from the previous financial year. However, in doing so they are considered to be 'in default' and are not entitled to any service or benefit from the fund for a period outlined in the fund regulations. Their details may be shared with the fund recipients (relevant industry associations) to ensure that no benefits are received.
PIRSA takes the privacy of those in default of the fund seriously. Fund recipients must submit an annual application to PIRSA to request the list of those in default, outlining the privacy provisions that they have in place to ensure this information is only used by them.