Regulation Impact Statement – Department of Agriculture
On 4 July 2015, the Australian Government released the Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper setting out actions for the agricultural sector in five priority areas including strengthening the approach to drought and risk management. Among the initiatives to assist Australian farmers prepare for and manage through drought and other hardship were the following agriculture measures providing:
- rebates for insurance and risk advice;
- drought concessional loans;
- increased Farm Household Allowance case management for recipients in their third year of payment;
- increased rural financial counselling services in drought-affected areas;
- improved access to social and community mental health support; and
- pest and weeds management in drought-affected areas.
A Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) prepared by the Department of Agriculture on the assistance measures has been assessed as compliant and consistent with best practice by the Office of Best Practice Regulation (OBPR). The RIS estimates the total average annual regulatory costs at about $95,000 per annum. The OBPR has agreed to the regulatory estimate and associated offsets for the measures.