Home > MYEFO > Appendix A: Policy decisions taken since the 2009‑10 Budget > Expense Measures > Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Drought assistance — Exceptional Circumstances assistance for primary producers

Expense ($m)
	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12	2012‑13
Department of the Treasury	-	16.8	2.3	-	-
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry	-	11.8	1.2	-	-
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations	-	0.8	0.1	-	-
Centrelink	-	0.5	0.1	-	-
Department of Health and Ageing	-	0.2	..	-	-
Total	-	30.1	3.7	-	-

The Government will provide $34.8 million over three years (including $1.1 million in 2008‑09) to continue support for primary producers in regions that have been declared eligible for Exceptional Circumstances assistance.

Exceptional Circumstances assistance provides interest rate subsidies and income support to assist viable farm businesses and farm families who have been adversely affected by the prolonged drought. Eligible recipients are also provided with a health care concession card and access to Youth Allowance for their children.

The cost of this measure in 2008‑09 was met from within the existing resourcing of the affected agencies.

Further information can be found in various press releases issued by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry between 1 May and 10 September 2009.

Drought assistance — Exceptional Circumstances assistance for small businesses

Expense ($m)
	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12	2012‑13
Department of the Treasury	-	1.1	0.2	-	-
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry	-	0.6	0.1	-	-
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations	-	..	..	-	-
Department of Health and Ageing	-	..	..	-	-
Centrelink	-	..	..	-	-
Total	-	1.7	0.3	-	-

The Government will provide $2.1 million over three years (including $57,000 in 2008‑09) to continue support for small businesses with up to 100 employees that are dependent on business from farmers in regions declared eligible for Exceptional Circumstances assistance.

The small business assistance provides interest rate subsidies and income support to assist viable farm‑dependent businesses and families who have been adversely affected by the prolonged drought. Eligible recipients are also provided with a health care concession card and access to Youth Allowance for their children.

The cost of this measure in 2008‑09 was met from within the existing resourcing of the affected agencies.

Further information can be found in various press releases issued by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry between 1 May and 10 September 2009.

Reform of Australia's biosecurity system — scoping

Expense ($m)
	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12	2012‑13
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry	-	-	-	-	-

The Government will provide $14.7 million in 2009‑10 to the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service to begin scoping elements of the reform of Australia's biosecurity system which have long lead times. These elements include initial work on information and communications technology upgrades and on future arrangements for post‑entry quarantine facilities. The scoping work follows the review of Australia's quarantine and biosecurity arrangements, One Biosecurity: a working partnership, conducted in 2008.

The cost of this measure will be met from within the existing resourcing of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

Further information can be found in the press release of 23 September 2009 issued by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

Reform of Australia's Export Certification Services

Expense ($m)
	2008‑09	2009‑10	2010‑11	2011‑12	2012‑13
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry	-	39.4	-	-	-

The Government has committed to a $39.4 million Export Certification Reform Package in 2009‑10 to develop and implement more efficient approaches to the delivery of export regulatory services. The package will provide transitional support to industry to adjust to the termination of the 40 per cent subsidy for the cost of export certification and inspection work undertaken by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service. The package is contingent on the regulations to return export certification to full cost recovery being agreed by the Parliament.

The funding includes $24.4 million to modernise export control infrastructure and $15.0 million to assist exporters to transition from the existing inspectorate‑based certification arrangements to a more efficient audit‑based approach.

Further information can be found in various press releases issued by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

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