Performance Against Objectives

Objective 1

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Payments made to entities eligible for basic and additional market milk payment rights.

KPI 1.1:

Notices of Decision sent to entities eligible for basic and additional market milk payment rights.

Target: 100% within three months of announcement of SDA Scheme (21 May 2001)

Notices of Decision were sent to 97.4% of eligible entities by the target date of the end of August 2001. By 30 June 2003, notices had been sent to 99.9% of eligible entities. The three remaining entities will receive their decisions when their claims under DSAP are resolved. These cases remain under active consideration.

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KPI 1.2:

Payments made to entities are eligible for basic and additional market milk payment rights and meet the conditions of the Notice of Decision.

Target: 100% within timeframe nominated by SDA Scheme i.e. as soon as practicable

All eligible entities that met the conditions of their Notice of Decision received their initial payments on time. Although payments were available either as a lump sum or quarterly, 91% of entities chose to take a lump sum payment. All payments were made within the timeframe nominated by the legislation.

Objective 2

Payments made to entities eligible for discretionary payment rights.

As shown in Figure 6 at 30 June 2003, 641 dairy producers had received a Notice of Decision stating that they were eligible for a discretionary payment right and 634 eligible dairy producers received their initial payments. This included payments to 110 farmers who had not previously received a payment right under DSAP.

KPI 2.1:

The Dairy Adjustment Authority identifies entities that may be eligible for a discretionary payment right and records all entities that register an interest in discretionary payment rights.

Target: 90% within three months of announcement of SDA Scheme (21 May 2001)

Within three months of the announcement of the SDA Scheme, the Authority had examined all records to identify entities that may be eligible for a discretionary payment right. In addition, many dairy producers telephoned the Authority requesting information on the new Scheme. Details were recorded and information packs together with application forms were sent to more than 2,700 dairy producers.

To ensure that all eligible dairy producers had the opportunity to apply, a range of strategies were adopted:

• Telephone Help Line staff were briefed.
• A Newsletter describing SDA was sent to all dairy producers.
• Information on SDA was uploaded on website.
• Q&A, media releases and information packs were sent to all callers to Help Line.
• Briefing sessions on SDA were given to Dairy farmer organisations and dairy processors.

KPI 2.2:

The Dairy Adjustment Authority seeks information in relation to a claim for a discretionary payment right from all entities who self-identify or whose records indicate they may have a valid claim.

Target: 90% within two months of identification

This target was achieved by the mail out of information packs. In a small percentage of cases, further information was sought by the Dairy Adjustment Authority. Dairy producers who had been identified by the Authority or who had requested information, received information packs and application forms in the last week of September 2001. Further information packs were sent as dairy producers enquired about the Scheme.

KPI 2.3:

The Dairy Adjustment Authority processes information received in relation to a claim for a discretionary payment right, and makes a decision in relation to the claim.

Target: 90% within two months of receiving information

Approximately 95% of claims were assessed and decided within two months after the receipt of the required information. The average time to process a claim for a discretionary payment right from the date of receipt of initial information was fifty days. In almost all cases, further information and clarification was required before a claim could finally be assessed and a decision made. Any delay in the processing of claims was due to the time taken for the Dairy Adjustment Authority to receive the further information or evidence requested.

KPI 2.4:

Payments made to entities who are eligible for discretionary payment rights and who meet the conditions of the Notice of Decision.

Target: 100% within timeframe nominated by SDA Scheme (i.e. as soon as practicable)

Initial and quarterly payments were made to all entities an time.

Objective 3

Payments made to entities eligible for a payment right under the Dairy Structural Adjustment Program.

Payment rights to the value of $1.63 billion have been granted to eligible entities under DSAP for standard payment rights, anomalous circumstances payment rights and exceptional events supplementary payment rights.

KPI 3.1:

Remaining cases are resolved as soon as practicable.

Target: 100% DSAP cases resolved by June 2002

Four entities (0.01%) had not received a decision under DSAP at 30 June 2002, because of complex probate issues in relation to deceased estates. As at 30 June 2003, two entities are yet to receive their DSAP decision. Both of these cases remain under active consideration.

KPI 3.2:

Payments made to entities who are eligible for payment rights under DSAP and who meet the conditions of the Notice of Decision.

Target: 100% within timeframe nominated by DSAP Scheme, (i.e. for initial payments within ten business days after the day the payment right is granted)

Initial payments were made on time to entities that met the conditions for granting their payment right and had supplied their bank account details. All quarterly payments were made within the required time.

Objective 4

Minimisation of requests for internal review.

KPI 4.1:

Minimise requests for internal review.

Target: Less than 10% decisions are subject to a request for internal review

Under DSAP 5% of decisions were subject to internal review of which 79% were confirmed, and 21% were varied. These decisions were based on further information received.

Under SDA 1.5% of decisions were subject to internal review of which 95% were confirmed, and 5% were varied. These decisions were based on further information received.

KPI 4.2:

Timely response to requests for internal review.

Target: 100% of requests for internal review are decided and entities advised within 60 days of receipt

Under DSAP 99% of requests for internal review were decided within sixty days of receipt of the request.

Under SDA 100% of the requests for internal review were completed within the statutory time frame, of which 95% were completed within 60 days. Those beyond 60 days were extended by mutual agreement to allow collection and consideration of all relevant information.

Objective 5

Minimisation of appeals to Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

KPI 5.1:

Minimise appeals to Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

Target: No more than 10% of requests for internal review

Under DSAP 10% of internal reviews were appealed to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

Under SDA 3.5% of internal reviews were appealed to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

KPI 5.2:

Minimise appeals upheld by Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

Target: No more than 5% of appeals

If the dairy producer remains dissatisfied with the result of a decision after the internal review, a further appeal to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal may be lodged.

At 30 June 2003, applications from 69 enterprises had been made to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal regarding DSAP decisions, comprising 0.5% of all decisions made, or around 10% of all requests for internal review. At 30 June 2003, 54 cases had been withdrawn or dismissed. The Administrative Appeals Tribunal had handed down decisions in relation to eight enterprises, seven of which upheld decisions made by the Dairy Adjustment Authority. The DAA decision in the remaining case was set aside by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. This decision is currently under appeal to the Federal Court.

At 30 June 2003, applications from 17 enterprises had been made to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal regarding SDA decisions, comprising 0.06% of all decisions made, or around 3.5% of all requests for internal review. At 30 June 2003, eight cases had withdrawn or been dismissed. The Administrative Appeals Tribunal handed down a decision in relation to one enterprise, which upheld the decision made by the Dairy Adjustment Authority.

Objective 6

The Dairy Adjustment Authority complies with requirements of the Act and Schemes.

KPI 6.1:

Satisfactory results from internal audits.

The internal auditors provided rigorous checks on the integrity and accuracy of the Authority’s processes. A series of audits were undertaken in relation to the programs, and the results were reported to the Audit Committee. Internal auditors worked with the management to ensure that all identified risks were mitigated. All issues raised have been actioned.

KPI 6.2:

Satisfactory result from annual external audit of expenditure.

External audit of expenditure by the Dairy Adjustment Authority indicated no issues.

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