Call for Applications: Farm Debt Mediation Grants Program (Australia)

This Tasmanian Government program helps farmers with financial difficulties cover costs for mediation under the Farm Debt Mediation Act 2024.

Funding Information

• Grants of $3,000 will be available to each eligible applicant towards mediation under the Farm Debt Mediation Act 2024 and other costs directly associated with mediation (such as preparing accurate accounts or a legal review, travel and other incidentals).

Eligibility Criteria

• To be eligible for a grant an applicant must:
  • Be registered for tax purposes in Australia with a continuously active Australian Business Number (ABN) trading for at least 12 months before the time of applying for the grant.
  • Exceptions may be considered, noting that the applicant will be required to provide relevant evidence to support their application, for example:
    • An applicant that has purchased a business that was actively trading for at least 12 months.
    • An applicant that has changed their business structure which has resulted in a new active ABN issued, but the business has been in operation for at least 12 months from the time of applying for the grant.
  • Be a farmer or farm business with a farm debt that is entering into mediation as provided for under the Farm Debt Mediation Act 2024.
  • Be a legal entity, for example an individual or any company or organisation that has legal rights and responsibilities including tax findings.
  • Not have previously received any funding under this program.
  • Provide the following:
    • a signed statutory declaration of financial hardship confirming inability to effectively participate in mediation given the financial costs;
• Applications submitted by a third party will not be accepted without evidence of permission in the application.
• An applicant may be asked to provide information or documentation to support eligibility claims, either as part of the application process, or after an application has been submitted.
• The information provided may be subject to authenticity checks using third party software.
• This program has limited funding, so not all eligible applications may receive a grant if funds are exhausted.

Ineligibility Criteria

• Not-for-profit organisations, incorporated associations, or charities UNLESS the organisation is operating as a business employing paid staff and selling goods and services to customers that make up more than 30 per cent of its income.
• Any public company as defined in the Corporations Act 2001.
• Local, State or Australian Government entities.
• Third party submissions, unless the applicant has provided the third party with written permission to do so on their behalf, and this permission is submitted as evidence with the application.
• Any application without the required supporting evidence.

For more information, visit Department of State Growth.