EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Issued by the Authority of the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
FARM HELP ADVICE AND TRAINING SCHEME AMENDMENT 2008 (No. 1)
----------------------------------------
Subsection 52B (1) of the Farm Household Support Act 1992 provides that the Minister may, by written instrument, formulate a scheme to be known as the farm help advice and training scheme, to grant assistance to eligible farmers and their families to obtain advice to assess their long term prospects, obtain training or obtain software needed for the purpose of, or as a result of advice or training under the scheme. Such a grant is to be known as the farm help advice and training grant.
A person who applies for farm help income support assistance under the Farm Household Support Act 1992 is required to obtain a financial assessment of the farm enterprise and will be granted assistance to obtain that advice under the farm help advice and training scheme. The person will need to undertake a financial assessment and develop an activity plan before income support and/or a re-establishment grant is payable. The advice and training grant may be used, in accordance with the person’s activity plan, to obtain advice, undertake training and obtain appropriate computer software.
----------------------------------------
The Farm Help Program was identified for savings to help fund the Australia’s Farming Future policy initiative and accordingly is being concluded. Amendments to the Farm Household Support Regulations 1993, the Farm Help Advice and Training Scheme 1997 and the Farm Help
Re-establishment Grant Scheme 1997 will formally conclude the Farm Help Program.
Consultation was undertaken with the Attorney-General’s Department (Office of Legislative Drafting and Publishing), the Office of Best Practice Regulation and Centrelink during the development of this note.
Farm Help Advice and Training Scheme Amendment 2008 (No. 1)
1 Name of Scheme
This item identifies the name of the Scheme as the Farm Help Advice and Training Scheme Amendment 2008 (No. 1).
2 Commencement
This item refers to the Scheme’s commencement date on 30 June 2008.
3 Amendment of Farm Help Advice and Training Scheme 1997
This item refers to the amendment by Schedule 1 of the Farm Help Advice and Training Scheme 1997.
Schedule 1 Amendments
[1] After section 1.3
This item inserts reference to a new section 1.4 which sets out the date when the Scheme ceases to have effect, being the end of 30 June 2009.
[2] Section 2.4
This item amends the section and clarifies when a grant must be used, according to whether the eligible person receives farm help income support or chooses not to, or subsequently receives a
re-establishment grant.
[3] Section 2.12 (1)
This item inserts a deadline of before the end of 30 April 2009 to request provision of a grant for obtaining training.
[4] Section 2.12 (3)
This item inserts a deadline of before the end of 31 May 2009 to request payment of a grant on presentation of a receipt or invoice for the provision of training or incidental expenses.
[5] Subsection 2.14 (1)
This item inserts a deadline of before the end of 30 April 2009 to request provision of a grant for computer software.
[6] Subsection 2.14 (2)
This item inserts a deadline of before the end of 31 May 2009 to request payment of a grant on presentation of an invoice for the supply of computer software.
[7] Subsection 2.14 (3)
This item inserts a deadline of before the end of 31 May 2009 to request payment of a grant on presentation of a receipt for computer software.