February 13, 2020
Agriculture Minister and Member for Maranoa David Littleproud says more red tape is being removed from Farm Household Allowance applications.
“We’ve taken several recommendations from a farmer-led panel to make the FHA applications more straightforward,” he said.
“Business income reconciliation will no longer be necessary in the new financial year. This will prevent putting farming families in debt if they receive unexpected income.
“Case managers will also be able to extend the time farmers have to complete farm financial assessments so they don’t miss out on support in complex cases.”
Since 2014, the FHA has paid $398 million to more than 13,300 individuals.
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Mr Littleproud also announced that the Drought Resilience Funding Plan had been tabled in Parliament, outlining how the proceeds of the Federal Government’s promised $5 billion Future Drought Fund can be spent.
The Future Drought Fund will deliver $100 million a year in drought resilience and preparedness programs.
It will begin with $3.9 billion in initial credit with earnings to be reinvested until the balance reaches $5 billion.
Mr Littleproud said the Funding Plan laid out the principles for projects the government would back.
“This reflects the advice of the independent Future Drought Fund Consultative Committee after an extensive public consultation,” Mr Littleproud said.
Future Drought Fund Consultative Committee chair Brent Finlay said the Plan was a framework for considering appropriate drought resilience projects and activities.
“During our six weeks on the road the committee heard from many farmers, regional natural resource managers, researchers, industry groups, banks and charities at many locations around the country,” Mr Finlay said.
“Each region had their own stories to share about how they thought the Drought Resilience Funding Plan could guide the development of programs that would lift agricultural productivity and build drought resilience.”
Interested parties can register their interest in the Future Drought Fund online
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