The Dairy Adjustment Authority (DAA) has received relatively few requests for a review of the entitlements granted to dairy farmers who submitted claims under the Dairy Structural Adjustment Program (DSAP).

"Over 90 per cent of the eligible dairy farmers applying for DSAP payments have received their Notice of Decision of their entitlement and only 1.1 per cent of these have requested a review of that decision", says Dairy Adjustment Authority Chairman, Patrick Musgrave.

"This means that as few as 300 dairy farmers of the 27,000 dairy farmers who have been advised of their entitlement under the DSAP, have requested a review of their entitlement", Mr Musgrave said.

"Given the complexities of dairy farm ownership and operation, including lease and sharefarming arrangements and the sharing of milk revenue, this is a very pleasing result. It vindicates the Authority's diligent approach to claims processing."

"The DAA has always been adamant about accuracy, ensuring that all claimants receive their full entitlement under the DSAP," Mr Musgrave said.

The DAA is now processing the last 2500 claims, many of which do not conform to the requirements for processing by the computer system. These claims require detailed investigation by DAA staff, including numerous follow-up phone calls to gather the correct information that is necessary to determine each entitlement under the DSAP.

"The DAA has delivered on the original objective set out in the DSAP information book, that dairy farmers with straightforward claims will receive their first payment in the last quarter of the year 2000", Mr Musgrave said.

"Having said that, we are very conscious of the fact that the remaining dairy farmers are anxious to receive their Notices too, and we are working with maximum resources to finalise these applications quickly.

"We knew back at the start of the program that many applications would take months to consider and we're at that stage now, having completed the bulk of what has been a huge task. To have done this much in just six months exceeds many of our earlier expectations", Mr Musgrave concluded.

ENDS

Further information: Mal Rowe

Telephone 03 9416 4002