AgForce Welcomes Historic Funding Rule Changes
Queensland’s peak representative body for rural producers has thrown its support behind historic changes to Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) that will help more primary producers get disaster assistance.
More Queensland producers will now be able to access support under changes to Commonwealth and state government joint funding grants for disaster recovery when severe weather strikes.
Previously a primary producer who had off-farm income to help sustain their farming operation, was often not eligible for disaster relief.
But these changes mean that disaster-affected farmers who were ineligible for assistance in Queensland can now apply for support measures including disaster loans and freight subsidies.
AgForce CEO Michael Guerin says this is a pivotal change.
“It’s probably one of our biggest wins because what it means is a whole lot of people who are genuine primary producers who were not eligible for grants and support in times of disasters – so where they had some off-farm income – will now be eligible for it,” Mr Guerin says.
“Which is massive because some people struggle because they work off farm for the economics of it, yet they can’t get grants at times of need.”
Now all primary producers – even those who include other agricultural support services such as contract mustering or cane harvesting – are eligible for disaster assistance.
He said the most impressive part of the changes is that they would apply retrospectively for all primary producers affected by the record-breaking 2024-25 disaster season.
“There will be hundreds of producers who had no ability to access support, who now will have it,” he says.
AgForce has lobbied strongly for these changes for the past two years. Mr Guerin says this change shows the strength of AgForce’s long term advocacy focus.
“AgForce is not an instant gratification organisation. We can’t solve issues overnight, nor be across everything,” he said.
“But what we are is a really well organised, well-set organisation with a track record, be it the recent EU outcomes or the Great Artesian Basin or reef regulations or vegetation management.
“Across all of those things, our big wins come on the back of years worth of work and years worth of investment by producers in our membership.”
He urged all farmers including those who were previously deemed ineligible to apply for DRFA funding to contact QRIDA on 1800623946 to find out how these changes will affect them.
https://agforceqld.org.au/knowledgebase/article/AGF-02471/