February 13, 2017
Improvements to the delivery of the Farm Household Allowance (FHA) payment will benefit South Burnett farmers in need, Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien says.
Mr O’Brien said amendments to the Farm Household Support Act 2014 have been introduced to clarify the definition of farm assets used in running farming businesses, such as water assets and shares in a farming cooperative.
“These amendments ensure assets necessary for the operation of a farm enterprise do not fall within the non-farm asset definition, which has stricter asset limits and can prevent some rightfully eligible farm businesses from receiving payment,” Mr O’Brien said.
“This means more farm businesses in the South Burnett will be eligible to receive assistance, with farm assets, such as water, being treated in the same way as other assets needed to run a farm business, such as land and machinery.
“The legislation also removes the requirement to serve an Ordinary Waiting Period or Liquid Assets Waiting Period before applicants can receive payment. This will mean farmers in need across the South Burnett can receive payments at the earliest possible opportunity.”
Mr O’Brien said the government is continuing to improve the efficiency of FHA application process by the Department of Human Services.
The FHA is designed to help farmers meet basic household needs and aims to improve their financial circumstances, with the assistance of a case manager.
Before the Coalition introduced the FHA in mid-2014, there was no support payment generally available to farmers in hardship outside of the Exceptional Circumstances Drought Program.
Exceptional Circumstances was abolished by the former Labor Government, which left farmers to starve if their businesses were in temporary hardship.
More than 7000 claims have been granted nationally since the FHA was introduced, giving farmers access to individual case support, activity supplements and income support.
More information about the FHA is available online
- Related article: Applications Open For New Farm Allowance
