The Tasmanian Government is offering a rebate to livestock primary producers on King and Flinders Islands to purchase and install new on-farm water infrastructure, or repair and/or replace damaged existing on-farm water infrastructure.

These rebates address animal welfare needs and improve resilience to drought.

Applicants will be required to demonstrate that they are from the livestock grazing industry, or other eligible primary producers on the Islands will be considered on a case by case basis.

The Rebate Scheme is open to applications any time until 24 December 2024 or until the Scheme’s funds are fully committed (whichever occurs first). 

The Rebate Scheme provides a one-off 25 per cent rebate up to $15,000 (GST Exclusive) to eligible primary producers for the costs associated with the purchase and installation of eligible on-farm water infrastructure and/or repairs.

A potential additional $2,500 resilience plan bonus rebate to further support the development of drought resilient farming businesses, and recognising the specific circumstances and extra costs involved for agribusiness on the Bass Strait Islands, is available to livestock grazing primary producers who can provide evidence of a current drought management plan or a completed Farm Business Resilience (FBR) Plan.

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants MUST:

• be a livestock grazing primary producer on King or Flinders Islands:
  • For the purposes of this Rebate Scheme an eligible Primary Producer refers to the carrying on of a business of primary production consistent with Taxation Ruling TR97/11 available on the www.ato.gov.au website
  • The grazing of livestock refers to animals primarily grazing in a pasture-based open-air grazing system.
• be property owners, share farmers or lease holders in the livestock grazing industry.
• undertake project activities for grazing livestock that the landholder owns (that is, not for stock agisted on their property).

Note: The Rebate Scheme recognises that livestock production is the primary agricultural pursuit conducted on King and Flinders Islands and therefore the risks that water scarcity from drought can pose to livestock animal welfare. Other primary producers on King and Flinders Islands that meet the Taxation Ruling definition outlined above may also be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Any eligible livestock primary producers who may have accessed similar water infrastructure rebate schemes in the past are eligible to apply for this Scheme, provided the costs are new and have not previously been claimed, or to access the $2,500 bonus for having a FBT Plan or drought management plan in place.

• Phone: 1300 292 292
• Email: farmpoint@nre.tas.gov.au