1. Objectives
To provide a subsidy on the transport of fodder and/or water to a property, stock to/from agistment and stock to sale or slaughter.
For applications received from 1 July 2019 the subsidy also includes transporting of farm chemicals, fertiliser and seed to farms.
2. Assistance available
A transport subsidy of up to 50% of the total freight cost is available to eligible primary producers on transport costs to a maximum of $7.50 per kilometre (GST exclusive) dependent of the vehicle type.
Farmers who applied for the Transport Subsidy in the 2018/2019 financial year (Round One) are able to apply in the current round (Round Two) again, for $40,000 for invoices dated between 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020.
New applicants for this subsidy can apply for a maximum of $40,000 through Round Two, for invoices dated from 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2020.
Claims for Round One invoices with movements made between 1 July 2018 and 30 June 2019 closed on 30 August 2019.
For applications received from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020 you can access up to $40,000 for invoices dated 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2020.
For invoices dated 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019 the maximum transport distance that is able to be subsidised is 1500km.
For invoices dated 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020 there is no maximum distance.
3. Eligibility
To be eligible for assistance you must declare that:
a) You are the owner and operator of a farm business in the ACT; and
b) You are a sole trader, partnership, trust or private company and trade agricultural products, and
c) Your business is registered with the Australian Taxation Office as a primary producer, and have an
Australian Business Number (ABN); and
d) As owners and operators of the business you earn more than 50% of your gross income from the primary production enterprise under normal seasonal circumstances. Applications from new entrants will be considered on a case by case basis; or
e) The owners and operators of the business have commenced their farming operation between 1 July 2015 and 30 June 2018 and 50% of their gross income will be derived from the farm business within three years of the date of the application. The applications of new entrants will be considered on a case by case basis.
f) As owners and operators of the business you do not have gross off-farm assets exceeding $5,000,000 (excluding funds in a registered superannuation fund), and
g) The business is being negatively impacted by drought conditions.
4. Eligible costs
a) Transporting of stock to agistment outside the ACT
b) Returning stock from agistment outside the ACT
c) Transport of stock to sale or slaughter from properties within the ACT
d) Transport of fodder for stock to properties within the ACT
e) Transport of stock drinking water to properties within the ACT
f) Transport of farm chemicals to properties within the ACT (from 1 July 2019)
g) Transport of fertiliser to properties within the ACT (from 1 July 2019)
h) Transport of seed to properties within the ACT (from 1 July 2019)
5. General guidelines
a) Expenses incurred between 1 July 2018 and 30 June 2020 will be eligible under this subsidy.
b) Subsidy will be paid for road transport at a rate of 50% of the total amount paid to the carrier or costs for an owner carrier, to a maximum transport cost of $5/km (owner carriers are dealt with in 5j). The maximum subsidy amount is $2.50 per kilometre. If the transport rates are considered excessive the subsidy paid is 50% of the approved ruling rate schedule.
c) For invoices dated from 1 July 2019 for a B-Double or larger, the transport subsidy will be paid at a rate of 50% of the total amount paid to the carrier, to a maximum of $7.50/km which equates to a maximum subsidy rate of $3.75/km.
d) For invoices dated from 1 July 2019 for short distance trips (under 80km), the subsidy will be 50% of the amount charged however the ACT Government reserves the right to limit the subsidy paid where transport costs are considered excessive.
e) Subsidy applies to the loaded portion of the journey only.
f) Invoices submitted with the application have not been used to secure funding under any other ACT Government scheme.
g) Subsidy applies on the cartage of fodder/water from the closest practical available source.
h) The amount to be paid is the GST exclusive amount.
i) Subsidy is not to be used for the transport of stock that are not fit to travel (see the 'Fit to Load' guidelines on the Meat & Livestock Australia website). Stock owners must always comply with the Animal Welfare Act 1992, and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 (NSW).
k) There are restrictions on the amount that owner carriers can claim per kilometre per transportation as per the following ruling rate schedule:
Gross vehicle mass (T) and/or gross combined vehicle mass (T) | Amount per kilometre |
|---|---|
| < 2.5 | $1.00 |
| < 4.5 | $1.40 |
| < 6.5 | $1.80 |
| < 8.5 | $2.00 |
| < 10.5 | $2.20 |
| < 12.5 | $2.35 |
| < 14.5 | $2.55 |
| < 15.5 | $2.65 |
| < 22.5 | $3.00 |
| < 27.5 | $3.40 |
| < 42.5 | $4.00 |
| >42.5 | $5.00 |
Owner carriers will be assessed on a case by case basis. Distance rates for owner carriers are indicative rates based on commercial transport costs but are calculated not to include the cost of the applicant’s time, labour or margin for profit.
6. Stock to and from agistment
a) Subsidy is available for the loaded forward and return journeys.
b) Subsidy is also available for transport of stock from one area of agistment to another.
c) If the owner is forced to move stock off the agistment property additional claims will be considered on a case by case basis.
d) The stock owner must have no prior arrangement/agreement or contract to sell or otherwise dispose of the stock to the owner of the agistment property.
e) Stock consigned to a custom or commercial feedlot on maintenance rations may be eligible for transport subsidies to and from the feedlot.
f) The minimum load must be equivalent to 70 dry sheep equivalents (DSE). Loads of less than 70 DSE will be assessed on a case by case basis (e.g. transporting bulls).
g) Commercial feedlots are not eligible for the rebate.
7. Stock to sale or slaughter
a) Subsidy is available for the transport of stock from the home or agisted property to sale or slaughter.
b) Commercial feedlots are not eligible for the rebate.
c) You are claiming in relation to farmed animals appearing on the most recent land and livestock return.
8. Fodder, Chemicals, Fertiliser, Seed
a) Subsidy is payable on transport costs related to movement of fodder, chemicals, fertiliser or seed. The movement must be to a landholder’s property, leased or agisted property.
b) Subsidy is payable for genuine smaller vehicle movements within a property, where the initial vehicle transporting the fodder to the property is too large to transport the fodder to the appropriate storage location on the property. In these situations, the owner must sign a statutory declaration to this effect.
c) Minimum load of fodder, fertiliser or seed is 1 tonne. Loads of less than 1 tonne may be assessed on a case by case basis if eligible
d) Minimum load for chemicals is 100 litres.
e) Transport of fodder for stock consigned to a commercial feedlot on maintenance rations may be eligible for rebates.
f) Producers who purchase fodder from a commercial feed supplier or processor are eligible to claim 50% of the transport cost for feed ingredients as well as transport of the feed from the supplier to the holding.
g) Commercial feedlots, where stock are purchased, fattened and sold; and backgrounding, where stock are fattened prior to moving into a feedlot, are ineligible.
h) Commercial feed processors are not eligible for transport subsidies.
9. Stock drinking water
a) Subsidy for the transport of water is available if the water is carted from the nearest practicable source.
b) Transport of water within a holding is eligible for subsidy.
c) Transport subsidies will not be paid for the transport of water for irrigation.
d) Minimum movement (all other stock): >/= 1,000L per transportation.
e) Water cartage to stock on agistment property is eligible for subsidy.
10. Assessment
Applications will be assessed against the eligibility criteria. The ACT Government reserves the right to request further information from you or from any business or individual you have engaged, to assist in assessing your application and to verify any information provided in your application.
Failure to provide such information may result in refusal of your application.
The ACT Government also reserves the right to refuse an application, at its discretion, for any reason or for no reason irrespective of whether the eligibility criteria have been met.
Applications submitted may be subject to audit by the ACT Government or its agents in order to determine compliance with scheme guidelines.
11. To apply
Applications for assistance under the program must be made on the supplied application form and be accompanied by the documentation stated in the application form.
Complete applications will be assessed in order of receipt. Incomplete applications will not enter the assessment queue until all required information is provided.
Applicants should note that past financial assistance under this program or any other program is not a reliable indicator of eligibility for future financial assistance under this program.
Before applying for financial assistance under this program or making any decision, applicants should seek advice from their legal, business and financial advisers to determine their eligibility for and the terms of the financial assistance.
Applications and claim forms can be submitted by email, post, or in person. Applications and claim forms that have been emailed can be tracked most efficiently.
Email: act.ruralservices@act.gov.au
Post: Director, Rural Services, 500 Cotter Road,
Weston Creek ACT 2611
12. Fraudulent claims
By signing the claim form, you are declaring that the information provided in the application form and supporting documentation is true and accurate. Providing inaccurate, untrue or misleading information may be a breach of criminal law for which serious penalties may apply. If any information provided in an application or supporting documentation is found to be inaccurate, untrue or misleading, legal action may be taken against you, including action to recover the funds.
13. Guidelines
These guidelines are correct at the time of publishing. The ACT government reserves the right to amend, alter or change these guidelines at any time, and it is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that they check the relevant website frequently. The guidelines that apply to your application will be the guidelines that are current at the time your application is received. While we have taken all care in preparing these guidelines, the ACT Government will not be liable in any way for any errors, omissions or variation to information in these guidelines or for not advising an applicant of any errors, omissions or variations to information in these guidelines.
The ACT Government may cancel or suspend this scheme at any time without notice.
Applications for invoices dated 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020 must be received no later than 31 August 2020. Applications received after this date will NOT be accepted.