✦ Plain-English Summary

Farm Household Support Amendment (Relief Measures) Bill 2020

What it does

This bill makes two changes to help farmers access support payments more easily during tough times. It removes a requirement for farmers to declare their business income when applying for farm household allowance, and it gives farmers more time to complete a farm financial assessment when they need support.

Why it matters

Farmers facing drought or crisis can now access emergency payments faster without complex income paperwork getting in the way. This cuts through red tape during periods when farmers are already struggling financially.

Key details

• Removes income reconciliation: Farmers no longer have to prove their business income declined to qualify for payments (effective 1 July 2020)
• Extended assessment timeframe: The bill removes the strict 28-day deadline for completing a farm financial assessment, giving farmers flexibility depending on their circumstances (effective immediately after the bill passes)
• Existing debts protected: If a farmer already received payments under the old rules and owes money back, those old rules still apply to them—this change doesn't wipe out existing debts

Official Description

Amends the Farm Household Support Act 2014 to: remove the use of business income reconciliation for the purposes of determining a person’s rate of farm household allowance; and remove the 28 day time limit for conducting a farm financial assessment.

No formal division recorded

This bill passed by voice vote — parliament agreed without calling a formal count. A division is only recorded when a member explicitly requests one.

No votes yet.

No votes were recorded for this bill.