News

Tax Seminar for Primary Producers & Advisers June 24th
2nd June 2009
Presented by Graham Allen from ATO
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Small Block Exit Grant Changes
4th May 2009
Irrigators interested in applying for the Small Block Exit Grant now have until the 30th June 2009 to offer their water to the Australia Government through the Restoring the Balance in the Murray Darling Basin Program. Government has until the 30th September 2009 to accept an offer.
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Opportunity for Small Business Operators
15th April 2009
The Rural Financial Counselling Service Victoria – Murray Mallee is pleased to announce that we have received funding from the Small Business Advisory Service which is a Federal Government Body. We have formed partnerships with accredited training facilities and expert business and accounting advisers to provide information, training and advice on a wide range of business management and related issues to eligible small business operators, including farmers.
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Drought assistance extended to 31st March 2010
18th February 2009
Government has advised that drought declarations in the Mallee-Wimmera and most of the NSW Western Division, including Wentworth and Balranald regions have been extended to March 2010. Existing support mechanisms including Centrelink drought relief payments and interest rate subsidies administered by Rural Finance in Victoria and the NSW Rural Adjustment Authority will continue to that date. 'Farmer' eligibility remains a key criteria. Graeme Loison, Executive Officer said, "this is a good outcome for irrigators with reduced water allocations and for dryland farmers who had poor summer cereal crops due to low rainfall this season."
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Small Block Irrigator Exit Grant will be a good outcome for many irrigators wishing to leave farming
18th February 2009
The program is extremely complex, involving two government agencies; Centrelink for claim asessments, the Department of Environment and Water, Heritage and the Arts for water sales offers and proceedures and the local water authorities for consent and payment of water supply termination fees and lenders where they hold security over water entitlements.
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New Rural Financial Counsellors appointed to meet client demand
4th February 2009
The Murray Mallee service has recently appointed George Stone and Sue Rudd to work part time out of the Mildura office and Teresa O'Brien is to work full time at the Swan Hill office. Graeme Loison, Executive Officer said the new counsellors would help to ease the work load of the entire team at a time when client demand remains high. With on going drought, water allocation restrictions and industry difficulties, particularly for wine grape growers, it is not expected that client needs will diminish in the short term. We thought client numbers may have peaked after steady increases in recent years, but new clients continue to come forward, especially now that the Small Block Irrigator Exit Grant package is available for Victorian and NSW irrigators.
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Victorain irrigators are now eligible to apply for the Small Block Irrigator Ext Grant
3rd February 2009
Victorian and NSW irrigators are now eligible to apply for the exit grant following agreement between the Australian and Victorian/NSW Governments. Intending applicants should contact the Service as soon as possible, as timeframes are gettng tight with water offers to be made to the Australian Government before the 30th April and confirmation of acceptance with Centrelink before the 30th June 2009.
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High interest in the Small Block Irrigators Exit Grant. Irrigators interested in the package should call 1800 050 015 to register.
28th January 2009
To date the Service has recorded 99 expressions of interest from Victorian and NSW irrigators in applying for the new irrigator exit grant first announced in September 2008.
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New EO Commenced
6th February 2008

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High level of interest in new Irrigation & Exit Grants
6th February 2008
The Service has had a high level of enquiries for information and assistance with applications for the $20,000 Irrigation Management Grants. As there is no income test and the assets test limit is $750,000 most irrigators should be eligible.
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Changes to Farm Help
16th July 2007
On the 1st July 2007 important changes to Farm Help were introduced. The new arrangements allow for re-entry to the program under certain conditions for those who have had Farm Help previously.
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Funding for Rural Financial Counselling
16th July 2007
Government has announced the continuation of the Rural Financial Counselling Service program to 2011. Competitive selection for service delivery arrangements are expected to be released by October 2007. Currently the Sunraysia and Wentworth/Balranald Services are seeking a consultant to investigate amalgamation arrangements and preparation for a funding submission for ongoing delivery.
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New funding for Sunraysia Rural Counselling Service
21st August 2006
Sunraysia Rural Counselling Service is one of six organisations in Victoria selected to provide rural financial counselling services to June 2008.
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Irrigators in the NSW Murray region are eligible to apply for Exceptional Circumstances assistance.
19th May 2006
Up to 700 mixed irrigators in NSW's Murray Valley can now apply for interim Exceptional Circumstances (EC) drought support.
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Extra funds for Rural Financial Counselling
18th May 2006
The rural financial counselling service program is to receive $9.72m in additional funding to 2008 as announced in the Federal Budget. The funding will enable the rural financial counselling service program to introduce new operational arrangements and ease financial pressures on rural communities.
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Counsellors achieve university qualification
18th May 2006
Rural Financial Counsellors, Graeme Thornton and Don Seward, attained Diplomas of Community Services (Financial Counselling) in a graduation ceremony at the University of Ballarat on 5th May 2006.
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