Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management, The Hon David Littleproud MP
Tasmanian Minister for Primary Industries and Water, The Hon Guy Barnett MP
Tasmanian primary producers impacted by the 2019-20 bushfires will benefit from grants announced today.
Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud welcomed the Tasmanian government opening these grants and said that they will provide important assistance to primary producers.
"In January, we said we will do whatever it takes to support bushfire affected communities and that remains the case six months later," Minister Littleproud said.
"These grants will provide important support to bushfire affected primary producers."
"We're pleased to again be joining with the Australian Government to deliver this support to Tasmanian farmers" Minister Barnett said.
Support is available to bushfire affected primary producers in the local government areas of:
- Central Highlands and Southern Midlands (Pelham)
- Break O'Day (Mathinna and Fingal)
- Flinders Island (Foochow)
- Glamorgan-Spring Bay (Swansea)
- West Tamar (Winkleigh)
The primary producers grant provides support to farmers and other primary production businesses in fire affected areas with grants available of $10,000 and up to $75,000 where there were demonstrated significant impacts.
The grants will cover the costs of such services as safety inspections, veterinary fees, waste disposal, equipment purchases or repairs to property or equipment damaged in the fires.
Key eligibility changes made nationally in July include:
- Removal of the $100,000 off-farm income threshold where an applicant's income from primary production is less than 50 per cent of their total income.
- Allowing extra time for applicants to reach the 50 per cent income threshold from three to eight years in recognition of long lead times required by some sectors to reach full production.
- Applicants are no longer required to be registered for GST but must still hold an ABN.
- Businesses earning more than 50 per cent of their income from a combination of primary production and goods made directly from that produce will now be eligible for assistance.
