Wine Industry Fund Reform

The Wine Industry Fund Reform Consultation has now closed.

What's being decided?

South Australia’s grape and wine industry has access to a reliable source of funds through 7 wine industry funds. We are proposing to make changes to how these funds are managed to provide better certainty and efficiency for the industry and the Government of South Australia. The Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) has worked with industry on areas of improvement and proposes the following changes:

• reducing the refund period
• changes to the default period
• review of the five-year renewal period
• setting the contribution rate via the Government Gazette.

If you are a winemaker or grape grower who currently contributes to any of the 7 wine industry funds, you are invited to share your thoughts. We're interested to learn your views on these matters and any other changes that you would like considered to improve the operation of the wine industry fund regulations.

Background

The Primary Industry Funding Schemes Act 1998 (the Act) was established to provide South Australian primary industries with a legislative instrument to raise funds within their sector to undertake activities that support and develop their sector. Different Primary Industry Funding Schemes (PIFS) currently operate in South Australia, covering wine, citrus, grains, and livestock. The PIFS receive money from contributors, who are currently able to seek a refund of their contributions from the PIFS fund during a prescribed period. The funds are administered by the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, and PIRSA assists with administering the funds on behalf of the Minister. PIRSA undertook a review of its administration of the 7 wine industry funds (listed below) established under the Act in 2019 to identify if the system could be improved:

• Adelaide Hills Wine Industry Fund
• Barossa Wine Industry Fund
• Clare Valley Wine Industry Fund
• Langhorne Creek Wine Industry Fund
• McLaren Vale Wine Industry Fund
• Riverland Wine Industry Fund
• South Australian Grape Growers Industry Fund

Since this review, PIRSA has initiated discussions with the wine industry on areas of funds management that could be improved. In addition, the department has progressed changes in the agency (such as standard templates for industry applications and reporting); and has identified other areas of change that would require amendments to the regulations that establish the wine industry funds.

Get involved

PIRSA is seeking feedback on the regulations for each fund:

• Primary Industry Funding Schemes (Adelaide Hills Wine Industry Fund) Regulations 2017
• Primary Industry Funding Schemes (Barossa Wine Industry Fund) Regulations 2007
• Primary Industry Funding Schemes (Clare Valley Wine Industry Fund) Regulations 2008>
• Primary Industry Funding Schemes (Langhorne Creek Wine Industry Fund) Regulations 2016
• Primary Industry Funding Schemes (McLaren Vale Wine Industry Fund) Regulations 2017
• Primary Industry Funding Schemes (Riverland Wine Industry Fund) Regulations 2016
• Primary Industry Funding Schemes (SA Grape Growers Industry Fund) Regulations 2007

Find out more information by reading:

• The Wine Industry Fund Regulation Amendments Consultation Paper
• The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Have your say by:

• joining the forum
• posting your written submission to:
  Wine Industry Fund Reform
  Agriculture, Food and Wine
  GPO Box 1671
  Adelaide SA 5001
• email a submission to PIRSA.AgFoodandWine@sa.gov.au

What are the next steps?

Following the consultation, feedback provided will be considered to inform the changes to the wine industry fund regulations. A final report detailing the outcomes of engagement will be published on YourSAy.