‘Food on table’ scheme extended

David Littleproud.

The Coalition Government will extend the Farm Household Allowance (FHA) from three to four years to help the nation’s farmers with more effective drought support.

Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources and Maranoa MP David Littleproud said the changes followed the drought listening tour with the Prime Minister a fortnight ago.

“Farmers said extending FHA was a sensible measure which would help them, and we listened,” Mr Littleproud said this week.

“The drought has been going on for seven years in parts of Queensland. While FHA is essentially an adjustment payment which comes with free financial counselling to help farmers restructure, four years is a more appropriate timeframe to do this.

“This extra time will give them more breathing space to implement plans to become financially self-sufficient so they are better placed to sustain their farming businesses.

“We will extend the period farmers and their partners will be able to receive FHA from three to four years through the Farm Household Support Amendment Bill 2018. I remind farmers not to self-assess whether they’re eligible for FHA – I fear many eligible families have not applied.”

For more information on the support available for farmers, visit: www.agriculture.gov.au/ag-farm-food/drought/assistance/sup-farmers-rural-communities-drought