AG Assistance

I urge primary producers and small businesses to seek help and find out what assistance they may be eligible for. Please do not self-assess your eligibility but rather seek advice from an expert.

Please note the Federal Government is focused on supporting families, while State and Territory Governments prioritise freight and fodder.

RURAL FINANCIAL COUNSELLING SERVICE 

The Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS) is an Australian Government initiative that provides free and independent financial counselling to eligible farmers, fishers, foresters and small related enterprises who are experiencing, or at risk of, financial hardship.

More information on the RFCS can be found HERE or by calling the Rural Financial Counselling Network National Information Line on 1800 771 741.

You can locate your nearest Rural Financial Counsellor HERE.

REGIONAL SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT PROGRAM

The Regional Small Business Support Program provides financial counselling and related services for small regional businesses facing hardship due to drought, the COVID-19 pandemic or 2019-20 bushfires.

More information is available HERE.

REGIONAL INVESTMENT CORPORATION (RIC)

The RIC provides low-interest Federal Government loans to farmers, farm-related small businesses, and plantation businesses.

RIC loans can be used to invest, prepare for, manage or recover from drought, for new farms, expansion and succession planning, and develop new or replant bushfire-damaged plantations.

RIC Concessional loans for farmers

  • Drought Loans are to help farm businesses to prepare, manage and recover through drought.
  • Farm Investment Loans are for farmers who want to invest in a better future. They’re designed to make farm businesses stronger, more resilient and more profitable.
  • Could save farmers tens-of-thousands of dollars in interest each year.
  • Government has approved more than 2845 total loans valued at more than $3.09 billion since inception in 2018.

To contact RIC, visit this site.

RIC Concessional loans for farmer-dependent small businesses

  • AgBiz Drought LoanFarm businesses and farm-dependent small businesses – harvesting and shearing contractors, livestock transport providers, stock and station agents and agricultural equipment and repair providers – will have access to more generous loan terms, including an interest free period, concessional interest rates and a reasonable re-payment period.
  • The Government will support small businesses with a new concessional loan product of up to $500,000.

To contact RIC, visit this site.

RIC Concessional loans for first time farmers

  • AgriStarter Loans are available to assist first-time farmers and loans to support farm succession arrangements.
  • There are two kinds of AgriStarter loans – first farm loans and succession loans.
  • For more information on AgriStarter loans please visit this site.

RIC Concessional loans for plantation owners

  • The purpose of the Plantation Loan is to encourage new plantations and replanting bushfire damaged plantations.
  • More information can be found HERE.

FARM HOUSEHOLD ALLOWANCE

The Farm Household Allowance (FHA) program provides assistance to farming families experiencing financial hardship, no matter the cause of that hardship.

The program provides eligible farmers and their partners with a package of assistance that includes:

  • up to four years of fortnightly income support (in every 10 year period)
  • ancillary allowances such as Pharmaceutical Allowance, Telephone Allowance, Rent Assistance and Remote Area Allowance
  • a professional financial assessment of the farm business (worth up to $1,500)
  • funding to help develop skills, access training and pay for professional advice (up to $10,000 and can now include reasonable travel and accommodation to undertake training)
  • regular support of a case manager.

More information is available HERE.

Details on how to claim can be found HERE.

Dedicated FHA Farmer Assistance Hotline: Phone 132 316

SOCIAL SUPPORT AND WELLBEING

The government takes mental health, wellbeing and suicide in rural and regional Australia seriously. We recognise that people living and working on farms are subject to economic, climatic and social pressures. These pressures can affect their wellbeing, particularly during times of drought.

The Australian Government fund local governments and community organisations to provide free support services such as:

  • family support services
  • one-to-one counselling
  • outreach support
  • community mental health and wellbeing events
  • advice and referrals.

The government’s goal is to improve access to mental health and suicide prevention services for people in regional and remote areas.

If you or someone you know needs immediate help, contact:

  • Lifeline Australia 13 11 14
  • beyondblue 1300 22 46 36
  • Mensline Australia 1300 78 99 78
  • Kids Help Line 1800 55 18 00
  • Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

Find digital mental health resources from trusted service providers on the Head to Health website located HERE.

FUTURE DROUGHT FUND 

When in Government, the Coalition invested more than $7.5 billion in delivering support for our farmers.

Also as part of the former Coalition Government, I introduced the $5 billion Future Drought Fund, which provides secure, continuous funding for drought resilience initiatives. It will help Australian farms and communities prepare for the impacts of drought.

The Future Drought Fund launched its first programs on the 1st of July 2020 to build resilience to future droughts. Key achievements to date can be found HERE.

More information on the Future Drought Fund and the programs that may assist you can be found HERE.

OTHER RESOURCES

Visit Home | FarmHub | Connecting Australian farmers with services and support for detailed information on services and support programs available.

Other good sources of information on all drought and rural support provided by the Australian Government can be found HERE and HERE.