Swine Compensation Fund

Victoria's Swine Compensation Fund is established under the Livestock Disease Control Act 1994. The government collects livestock duties paid by producers on the sale of pigs or their carcasses in Victoria.

The Minister for Agriculture may make payments from the Swine Compensation Fund:

1. from the capital of the fund for administering the provisions of the Livestock Disease Control Act 1994 relating to the sale of pigs or the carcases of pigs under the Duties Act 2000; and
2. from interest earned on money from the fund for programs and projects for the benefit of the swine industry in Victoria.

The Minister for Agriculture must not make a payment from the fund unless the Minister has considered any relevant recommendations from the Swine Industry Projects Advisory Committee.

The Swine Industry Projects Advisory Committee has been established to provide advice to the Minister for Agriculture on how the funds should be used, and any other matter referred to it by the Minister.

2018–19 applications for funding

Eligibility criteria

The following organisations are eligible to apply for funding from the Swine Compensation Fund:

• non-profit organisations (including registered charities or incorporated associations),
• private enterprise businesses,
• co-operatives,
• local and state government bodies,
• non-departmental government agencies (including tertiary education institutions, land councils and Catchment Management Authorities), and
• research organisations.

All applicants must have an ABN or an ACN to apply for funding.

Those not eligible to apply for funding include:

• individuals,
• organisations that are not incorporated under relevant State or Commonwealth Legislation, and
• lobby groups or organisations seeking funding to support political activities.

Organisations that are not incorporated under state or commonwealth legislation may submit an application sponsored by an eligible organisation. This is an effective means for organisations that have a good proposal, but not the resources to manage their project, to participate in the program. In this situation, the sponsoring organisation becomes the applicant.

Funding priorities

Funding priorities are in line with the objectives of the Livestock Disease Control Act 1994, i.e.

1. protect public health by preventing, monitoring and controlling diseases transmissible from pigs to humans;
2. to protect domestic and export markets for livestock and livestock products by preventing, monitoring and controlling livestock diseases;
3. to provide for the preventing, monitoring and eradication of exotic livestock diseases;
4. to provide compensation for certain losses caused by livestock diseases;
5. to facilitate the operation of livestock identification and tracking programs for disease and residue control and market access.

Assessment criteria

Applications will be assessed against the following criteria:

• the extent to which the project meets the objectives of the Livestock Disease Control Act 1994;
• the extent of benefit to the Victorian swine industry;
• the demonstrated level of support, including (but not limited to) funding, from industry members, stakeholders and project partners across the value chain;
• the existence of a structured project plan with defined timeframes, outputs and outcomes and demonstrating the capability and resources to manage the project;
• proposed arrangements for the measurement of performance against the projects objectives;
• the extent to which the project is part of an integrated and strategic approach rather than an ad hoc proposal;
• existence of a communication strategy to Victoria's swine industry and relevant stakeholders;
• value for money;
• the likelihood of project success; and
• fund availability.

As this is a competitive and discretionary program, each application is also assessed against other applications received. This approach ensures that proposals are considered on merit. As project funds are limited, meeting the assessment criteria does not guarantee funding. Submissions recommended for funding by the Swine Industry Projects Advisory Committee will be provided to the Minister for Agriculture for a decision on funding.

Submission deadlines

Applications for funding for 2018-19 will close on Monday 30 April 2018.

The application form should be read together with the Statement of Strategic Intent [MS Word Document - 207.2 KB].

Applications can be submitted by downloading, completing and returning the application form [MS Word Document - 23.0 KB] by email to biosecurity.governance@ecodev.vic.gov.au.

Exceptional proposals

The Committee may call for or receive applications for funding outside of the major funding cycle, depending on identified or emerging needs or opportunities. For 2018, the criteria for committee acceptance of proposals outside of the usual funding cycle (referred to as exceptional proposals) is as follows (exceptional proposals should meet all three criteria):

• Time-critical, not viable to wait until the next funding round
• Non-routine, not part of business-as-usual activities
• No other funding sources available

Proposals to meet specific priorities

The committee may invite proposals to meet specific priorities and criteria, as required.

Further information

Email: Biosecurity.Governance@ecodev.vic.gov.au