Farmers will be able to have their say on the Farm Household Allowance (FHA) scheme at a special hearing in Tamworth next week.
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The independent review panel is holding face-to-face consultations across the country, seeking farmers’ views on accessing the FHA.
“People will be able to speak to a person, not just someone over the phone or email, about what’s working and what’s not with the Farm Household Allowance payments and eligibility,” New England MP Barnaby Joyce said.
“We’re after not only individuals and farming families but also those who deliver the support, including accountants, agronomists, financial advisers, counsellors, agricultural suppliers and even the general public – anyone who has an opinion on the FHA process, they’re welcome to have a say,” he said.
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The panel has already visited places like Casino, Mildura and Warwick, and will visit Bunbury in Western Australia, before heading to Tamworth, Dubbo and Bairnsdale.
The Government has already made changes to the FHA, including;
- simplifying the application form, cutting it by a third
- extending how long people can receive FHA from three to four cumulative years
- investing an extra $5 million for the free Rural Financial Counselling Service.
The FHA review panel will meet in Tamworth on Wednesday, November 14. Anyone who is unable to attend can provide a written submission by Friday, November 9. Another FHA information session will be held in Inverell on November 17.
There’s also a short survey on Have Your Say, with access to this online survey extended until November 16.
The panel will make its recommendations to government in the first half of 2019.
To register for a session contact FHAReview@agriculture.gov.au or visit haveyoursay.agriculture.gov.au/fha-review-2018
