Households and small businesses impacted by high numbers of mice across regional NSW will be able to claim rebates for purchasing mouse bait from 1 February 2021, with the NSW Government today announcing the rebate program will be backdated.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said backdating the program will help regional families that were impacted by mice earlier this year and will ease the financial pressure farmers and small businesses are currently facing due to the mice plague.
"By extending the eligibility period back to February it will hopefully take some pressure off regional communities who are battling these rodents," Mr Barilaro said.
"I can also announce today that primary producers will be able to claim a single rebate of up to $1000 where their business and residence share an address.
"Farmers and regional small businesses often live where they work, so it makes sense that they can apply for a rebate of up to $1000 to help meet the cost of buying bait."
The mouse bait rebate will be available to households, small businesses and primary producers located in the mouse impacted Central Tablelands, Central West, Northern Tablelands, North West, Western, Riverina and Murray regions, and select Local Government Areas in Hunter and South East Local Land Service regions.
Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall said plans to provide farmers with bromadiolone treated grain for perimeter baiting are progressing but remain dependant on approval from the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority.
"Bromadiolone perimeter baiting is a second layer of defence on top of the doubled rate of zinc phosphide application," Mr Marshall said.
"Soon farmers will be able to get their grain treated free of charge to protect their hard-sown crops from vermin."
Claiming a rebate will be a simple process that you can complete on the Service NSW website or by visiting a Service NSW centre and uploading or showing receipts for mouse bait purchases dating back to 1 February, 2021.
For further details about the mouse rebate program, including eligibility and the claims process, visit the mouse control support program.
