EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Issued by the Authority of the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
FARM HELP RE-ESTABLISHMENT GRANT SCHEME AMENDMENT 2008 (No. 1)
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Subsection 52A (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 re-establishment grant scheme, to grant financial assistance to eligible farmers on the sale of their farm enterprises, or their rights or interests in farm enterprises. Such a grant is to be known as a re-establishment grant.
A person who applies for a benefit under the farm help re-establishment grant scheme is required to obtain advice under the farm help advice and training scheme and will be granted assistance to obtain that advice. The person is required to undertake a financial assessment and develop an action plan before qualifying and being eligible to claim a re‑establishment grant.
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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 Re-establishment Grant Scheme Amendment 2008 (No. 1)
1 Name of Scheme
This identifies the name of the Scheme as the Farm Help Re-establishment Grant 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 Re-establishment Grant Scheme 1997
This item refers to the amendment by Schedule 1 of the Farm Help Re-establishment Grant 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 2.2
This item amends the section to state applications cannot be made after 30 June 2008.
[3] Paragraph 3.2 (1) (baa)
This item amends the section to reflect a new date by which the applicant’s farm must be sold, being the end of 31 March 2009.
[4] Section 3.3
This item amends the section to reflect a new deadline for requesting payment of a grant, being the end of 30 April 2009.
[5] Section 3.6, heading
This item amends the section headline to reflect the new end date of 30 June 2009.
[6] Subsection 3.6 (1)
This item amends the section to reflect the new end date of 30 June 2009.
[7] Subsection 3.6 (4)
This item amends the section to reflect the new end date of 30 June 2009.
[8] Section 3.6A
This item omits the section as it is no longer relevant.