Funding Agreement 2020-2030
On 5 May 2020 AgriFutures Australia entered into a Funding Agreement with the Australian Government. This Funding Agreement sets out expectations about performance, transparency and accountability to levy payers, the Government and the public.

• Funding Agreement 2020-2030

Key Documents

• Letter from The Hon. David Littleproud MP, to Chair – Mrs Kay Hull AO
• Guidelines for Statutory Funding Agreements
• Best Practice Guide to Stakeholder Consultation 
• National Agricultural Innovation Policy Statement 
• RDC Knowledge Transfer and Commercialisation Guide

• Board Governance Manual 
• Audit Committee Charter

Consultation Framework and Plan 
An overarching consultation plan and framework, that outlines AgriFutures Australia’s approach to consultation, the mechanisms used and consultation activities utilised to promote stakeholder engagement across the business. This consultation plan and framework have been designed around six key principles: transparent; accessible; straightforward; well planned; fit for purpose; and responsive. These principles underpin meaningful, best practice consultation that is conducted in a genuine, frank, and respectful manner, promoting trust at the centre of all AgriFutures stakeholder interactions. Please see a copy of each document, below:

• AgriFutures Australia Consultation Framework 
• AgriFutures Australia Consultation Plan  

How we are performing for you
As measured against the 2020-2030 Statutory Funding Agreement Guidelines and Performance Principle KPIs.

• AgriFutures Australia – Statutory Funding Agreement – Performance Principle KPIs.pdf

Indexed list of files
As part of Standing Orders of the Senate, AgriFutures Australia is required to provide access to an indexed list of the titles of all relevant files, including new parts of existing files, that it has created from 1 January 1998.

• July 2020 – December 2020
• January 2021 – June 2021
• July 2021 – December 2021
• January 2022 – June 2022

Privacy Statement
The AgriFutures Australia privacy policy sets out how we comply with our obligations under the Privacy Act 1988 (Privacy Act).

• AgriFutures Australia Privacy Statement

AgriFutures Australia Program Framework
The AgriFutures Australia Program Framework informs the development of key planning and reporting documents such as the Strategic R&D Plan, Annual Operational Plan and Annual Report.

• AgriFutures Australia Program Framework

AgriFutures Australia Evaluation Framework
The AgriFutures Australia Evaluation Framework outlines how investment decisions are made and how performance impacts of program investments are evaluated.

• AgriFutures Australia Evaluation Framework

AgriFutures Australia Events Code of Conduct
AgriFutures Australia is committed to ensuring that no person feels unsafe during any event. AgriFutures Australia requires all attendees, speakers, sponsors and volunteers at any AgriFutures Australia event to agree with the following code of conduct.

• AgriFutures Australia Events – Code of Conduct
• AgriFutures Australia Supplier – Code of Conduct

Enterprise Agreement
The AgriFutures Australia Enterprise Agreement 2022-2025 was approved under the Fair Work Act 2009 and came into operation on 16 February 2022.

• Enterprise Agreement 2022-2025

Fraud Control
The AgriFutures Australia Fraud Control Policy and Plan sets out the approach for the prevention and management of fraud or allegations of fraud within AgriFutures Australia.

AgriFutures Australia invited the provision of corporate services for the period 1 January 2020 – 31 December 2021 with a focus on graphic design, social media, media and public relations, copy writing, photography, printing, editing, website maintenance and design, events, audio/visual services, CRM and Reporting.

The Expression of Interest was an invitation to treat.  AgriFutures Australia is not compelled to accept or reject any responses from respondents. Applications have now closed.

Here is the list of Preferred Suppliers for 2020-2021:

Active Print

Bengar Films

CSU Print

CanPrint

Cox Inall Communications

Daymark Public Relations Pty Ltd

EMG

Dextrus Designs

Eddy May Communications

Encore Event Technologies

Event AV Services Pty Ltd

Efront Pty Ltd

Frank & Earnest

The broad objective of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) is to give the Australian community access to information held by the Government of the Commonwealth.  Reforms to the FOI Act which came into effect on 1 May 2011 are aimed at promoting a pro-disclosure culture across government, building a stronger foundation for greater openness and transparency in government operations.  AgriFutures Australia is committed to a proactive approach to publishing information which it holds to the benefit of rural industries, the research community and the broader Australian public.

AgriFutures Australia operates under the direction of a Board of Directors. Our headquarters is in Wagga Wagga and our corporate contact details are:

AgriFutures Australia
Building 007
Tooma Way
Charles Sturt University
Locked Bag 588
Wagga Wagga NSW 2650

02 6923 6900
info@agrifutures.com.au

How to make a request for access to documents under the FOI Act
Requests made under the FOI Act must meet all of the following criteria:

• Be in writing
• State that the request is an application for the purposes of the FOI Act
• Provide such information concerning the document that will allow AgriFutures Australia to identify it
• Provide detail of how notices provided by AgriFutures Australia in relation to the FOI request can be sent to the applicant.

AgriFutures Australia documents
AgriFutures Australia publishes or holds corporate documents such as the Annual Report, Corporate Plan and Annual Operational Plan. These are free while stocks are available. They are also available for free download from AgriFutures Australia website.

AgriFuture Australia’s extensive research library of is available for viewing, free downloading or purchasing from our Publications and Resources page. Purchases can also be made by phoning 1300 634 313.

Accessing information
Formal requests for information under the FOI Act must be made in writing to the FOI Coordinator.

In many cases, an application under the FOI Act may not be required as information or documents may be readily available.

An up-to-date listing of projects funded by AgriFutures Australia is detailed in our Research-in-Progress publications and also on the AgriFutures Australia website. Funding information on individual projects is available upon request.

Part II of the FOI Act establishes an Information Publication Scheme (IPS) for Australian Government agencies subject to the FOI Act.  The IPS commenced on 1 May 2011 and requires agencies to publish a broad range of information on their websites.

AgriFutures Australia Agency Information Plan describes how it intends to comply with the IPS.

In accordance with sub-section 8(2) of the FOI Act, AgriFutures Australia publishes the following information:

About – The following information is located in the About section of this website:

• Our People – including bio’s on all Director’s, Audit Committee Members, Advisory Panel Members, and the AgriFutures organisational structure
• Our Arenas – AgriFutures Australia has four distinct arenas that define programs of work and represent the organisation’s broad commitments in delivering on the priorities of the Australian Government, our stakeholders and our ultimate goal to create thriving rural industries and vibrant regional communities. Each arena has a goal, desired outcome, programs for delivery and strategic priorities.
• Careers – this section includes employment information and opportunities, AgriFutures workplace values, and the AgriFutures Australia Enterprise Agreement 2018-2021
• Corporate Documents – AgriFutures Australia produces a range of corporate publications designed to help our stakeholders better understand our organisation, our industry priorities, the context in which we operate and the emerging issues and trends we see on the horizon.
• Corporate Governance – The following information is located in the corporate governance section of this website:
• Funding Agreement 2020-2030
• Board Governance Manual
• Audit Committee Charter
• Indexed list of files
• Privacy Statement
• Program Framework
• Evaluation Framework
• Events Code of Conduct
• Supplier Code of Conduct
• Enterprise Agreement
• Fraud Control Policy and Plan 2020-2022
• Public Interest Disclosure Policy and Procedure
• Portfolio Budget Statements
• Senate Order for Entity Contracts
• Senior Executive Remuneration
• Review of Performance
• Terms and Condition of Purchase
• Work Health and Safety Policy
• Preferred Suppliers
• Freedom of Information
• Information Publication Scheme
• Information Publication Plan
• Disclosure Log

Rural Industries – this section provides information on each of our thirteen levied industries

People and Leadership – this section provides information on programs such as Horizon Scholarships, Ignite Networks, Rural Women’s Award, and capacity building opportunities for industries, amongst others.

National Rural Issues – this section provides information on topics such as Ag Innovation, AgVet Chemicals, Emerging Trends, Health a Safety, Community Trust and Provenance, amongst others.

Partnerships – this section provides information on programs such as Rural R&D for Profit, ExtensionAUS, Cooperative Research Centres Program, and Biomass & Bioenergy.

AgriFutures Australia is an agency subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act). The 2010 reforms to the FOI Act included the introduction of the Information Publication Scheme (IPS). This plan describes how AgriFutures Australia intends to comply with the IPS by managing its IPS entry.

Purpose
The purpose of this plan is to:

• Identify information AgriFutures Australia proposes to publish for the purposes of Part II of the FOI Act
• Identify how and to whom AgriFutures Australia proposes to publish information for the purposes of Part II of the FOI Act
• How AgriFutures Australia will otherwise comply with Part II of the FOI Act.

Objectives

AgriFutures Australia’s objectives are to outline appropriate procedures to:

• Manage its information holdings relevant to the IPS
• Proactively identify and publish all information required to be published
• Proactively identify and publish all operational information
• Review information published under the IPS on a regular basis to ensure that is accurate, up-to-date and complete
• Ensure that information published under the IPS is discoverable, understandable and re-useable
• Ensure that the format of online content conforms with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines Version 2.0 (WCAG 2.0)
• Measure the success of AgriFutures Australia’s contribution to the IPS by reference to feedback and review processes
• Any other specific agency objectives as announced from time to time.

Establishing AgriFutures Australia’s contribution to the IPS

The General Manager, Corporate has overall responsibility for leading AgriFutures Australia’s work on implementing the FOI reforms, including the IPS. AgriFutures Australia is responsible for administration of Freedom of Information, communications and publishing.

AgriFutures Australia identified information required or permitted to be published under the FOI Act by:

• Requesting Programs within AgriFutures Australia to review their functions and information holdings to identify material relevant to the IPS
• Identifying information to be published under the IPS section of AgriFutures Australia’s website
• Ensuring information to be published under the IPS section of the website was up to date, complete and accurate.

Timeframes for establishing the IPS at AgriFutures Australia are as follows:

Administering AgriFutures Australia’s contribution to the IPS
The General Manager, Corporate is responsible for managing the IPS and will maintain registers of information required to be published under the FOI Act.  AgriFutures Australia will assist the Communications Team to develop guidance material to explain AgriFutures Australia’s responsibilities for contributing to the IPS. The guidance material will:

• Help staff identify on an ongoing basis any required or optional information to be published under the IPS
• Describe processes to be followed internally to ensure the accuracy, currency and completeness of published information.

AgriFutures Australia is required by the FOI Act 1982 (s11C) to publish a disclosure log on its website. The disclosure log lists information which has been released in response to an FOI access request.  This requirement has applied since 1 May 2011.

The disclosure log requirement does not apply to:

• Personal information about any person if publication of that information would be ‘unreasonable’
• Information about the business, commercial, financial or professional affairs of any person if publication of that information would be ‘unreasonable’
• Other information covered by a determination made by the Australian Information Commissioner if publication of that information would be ‘unreasonable’
• Any information if it is not reasonably practicable to publish the information because of the extent of modifications that would need to be made to delete the information listed in the above dot points.

AgriFutures Australia will try to meet all reasonable requests for an alternative format of the document in a timely manner and at the lowest reasonable cost to the applicant.

Information attached to, or referred to, in the AgriFutures Australia Disclosure Log will generally be removed after 12 months, unless the information has enduring public value.

The information described in this disclosure log has been released by AgriFutures Australia under the FOI Act 1982 and is available for public access.

A charge may be imposed to reimburse AgriFutures Australia for the cost incurred in copying or reproducing the information or sending it.