Act of Grace resolution to support exit grant farmers
10-February-2012
Senator Bridget McKenzie -
The Nationals Senator for Victoria Bridget McKenzie has expressed ‘cautious optimism’ following news farmers stung by the Farm Exit Grant suspension will be considered for Federal Government payments.
A Coalition motion to provide Act of Grace payments to farmers that exchanged sales contracts before the program was prematurely cut, passed through Parliament yesterday.
“Many Victorian farmers were left in the lurch when without notice, the Gillard Government suspended the Exit Grants program just weeks into the scheme,” Senator McKenzie explained.
“In just five short weeks, all monies allocated to the scheme were expended, stranding farmers who had commenced the property sales process after a positive pre-assessment.
“I welcome the Government’s commitment to provide payments to those who exchanged sales contracts on or before 10 August 2011. It must be stressed these families did so in good faith, based on their grant pre-assessments with rural financial counsellors.”
“The Coalition is pleased an improved outcome was brokered however I have concerns these payments won’t reach everyone burned by Labor’s farm funding fiasco.”
Senator McKenzie said she questioned Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig about the Exit Grant scheme in the Senate following its suspension.
“The Minister’s response pointed to a dumbfounding lack of planning and highlighted Labor’s failure to appreciate the toll a decade of drought had taken on regional Australians.
“Given the degree of underfunding, one wonders just how serious the Gillard Government was about the Exit Grant program in the first place.
Senator McKenzie said rural financial counsellors were already assisting a number of farmers with Act of Grace applications.
The Nationals Senator called on the Federal Government to show compassion and flexibility in processing the payments.