L.WAM.2102 - WALRC Regional Funds Management 2020-21

Summary

This agreement covers the FY 2020–21 allocation of funds for the Western Australian Livestock Research Council (WALRC) regional engagement and for WALRC to administer these funds on behalf of MLA.

MLA has a regional consultation structure that engages producers for inputs into MLA’s allocation of annual investments in research, development and adoption (RD&A) benefiting grassfed beef and sheepmeat producers. WALRC is one of three research advisory councils in MLA’s consultation framework, representing inputs from Western Australian producers. WALRC provides a forum for red meat industry and RD&A agencies to review, debate and consolidate RD&A priorities that emerge the consultation process.

Each year, MLA allocates funding to cover sitting fees, travel and meeting expenses for the producer members of WALRC, as well as for WALRC Council operations. As indicated above, this agreement covers the FY 2020-21 allocation of funds, which will be administered by WALRC on behalf of MLA. 

Objectives

1. The WALRC secretariat will request and process invoices from each WALRC producer member who attends regional forums and full WALRC meetings and pay the invoices in accordance with these Guidelines.
2. MLA may require an annual financial audit to be conducted, at the expense of the Council.
3. Assist in ensuring MLA is invited by WALRC to all meetings, and is given adequate (a minimum of three weeks) notice; and that MLA has the opportunity to address each meeting to provide updates on Investment Call progress and/or RD&A investments.
4. Manage consultation funds in accordance with these Guidelines. Funds may not be used to cover expenditure outside of these Guidelines, unless written approval has been obtained from MLA prior to expenditure.
5. Deliver regional priorities for investment in grassfed beef and sheepmeat RD&A to MLA at a time agreed with the Program Manager – Consultation.
6. Provide a forum for the beef and sheep industry and research, development and adoption (RD&A) agencies to review, debate and consolidate RD&A priorities that emerge from the regional forums.
7. Foster effective communication of RD&A outcomes and provide engagement for continued RD&A service provision.
8. A detailed Council activity report is required once per year in May. This report will cover activities of the Council, a financial statement detailing expenditure of MLA funds, and an overview of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) data collected throughout the year, including meeting locations, participant numbers etc.
9. M&E status reports to be provided every quarter, for MLA internal purposes, WALRC meetings, locations and number of attendees.
10. Give MLA the opportunity to address Council meetings.
11. The Council Secretariat will distribute updates and information on the Investment Call and the Consultation Framework, and other information deemed relevant by MLA, to its membership base. Including distribution of an MLA Regional Consultation Framework annual satisfaction survey. MLA will send WALRC the survey for circulation and will collate results.

Benefits to industry

The levy paying producers have an independent mechanism to engage with MLA through the Research Council to determine producer priorities for RDA.