Drought Network Tasmania contact list (2pg pdf; 84KB)
Flinders Island Road Transport Assistance
Drought relief continues
Tasmanian Drought Assistance Package - 11 March 09
Drought Assistance Extended until 30 April 2010
TFGA Drought event assistance grants
Go to a summary of Drought Information available on FarmPoint
BOM Drought Statement (5 Nov 08 ) - available on FarmPoint
Australian Drought Assistance reports - available on FarmPoint
Exceptional Circumstances Interest Rate Subsidy (ECIRS) - Second round of applications now available at
www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/drought
Visions of the Land - Calendar to support drought affected farmers - order here
Rural Alive and Well Program Tasmania - see news item
Information on Health and Community services is available on FarmPoint.
Exceptional Circumstances Interest Rate Subsidy
The Federal Minister for Agriculture, fisheries and Forestry, Tony Burke announced on 12 February 2009 an extension of the Exceptional Circumstance (EC) declared areas of Tasmania to 30 April, 2010. This includes Flinders Island and the previous EC declared area of the Central Midlands and the East Coast but excludes the North East area of mainland Tasmania and Clarke and Cape Barren Islands which will expire on 31 March 2009. Eligible primary producers and small businesses in the extended areas will continue to receive EC Relief Payments and be able to apply for interest rate subsidies for the extended term.
The Exceptional Circumstances Interest Rate Subsidy (ECIRS) scheme provides interest subsidies to eligible Tasmanian farm and agriculture-dependent small businesses severely affected by drought. The scheme is funded by the Australian and Tasmanian Governments and administered by Tasmania's Department of Primary Industries and Water (DPIW). To receive support, applicants must meet assessment criteria determined by the Australian Government.
Go to the drought section or www.dpiw.tas.gov.au/drought for general information, or contact DPIW by email on drought@dpiw.tas.gov.au or by phone on 1300 368 550.
The Australian Government is conducting a comprehensive national review of drought policy through three separate assessments. The review will support the development of policies to help better prepare farmers and rural communities for a changing climate.
The review will include:
- an economic assessment of drought support measures by the Productivity Commission
- an assessment by an expert panel of the social impacts of drought on farm families and rural communities
- a climatic assessment by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and the Bureau of Meteorology of the likely future climate patterns and the current Exceptional Circumstances standard of a one-in-20-to-25-year-event.
More information can be found on the website at www.daff.gov.au/agriculture-food/drought/national_review_of_drought_policy
Centrelink Support
Producers need to contact Centrelink or call the Australian Government Drought Assistance Hotline on 13 23 16 to check their eligibility for other drought support and for further information.