WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/AG/N/AUS/70 
26 March 2008 
 (08-1323) 
Committee on Agriculture Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION  
 
  The following submission, dated 18 March 2008, is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of Australia .  The notification concerns new or modified domestic support measures 
exempt from reduction ( Table DS:2 ). 
 G/AG/N/AUS/70 
Page 2  
 
  Table DS:2 
 
DOMESTIC SUPPORT:  Australia  
Notification under Article 18:3 of the Agreement:  
New or modified domestic support measures exempt from reduction  
 
(1) Full title of measure:  Western Australia Natural Disaster Relief Arrangements – Cyclone 
Isobel 
(2) Domestic legislation:  Nil.  Measure authorised under Australian and Western Australian 
Government Natural Disaster Re lief and Recovery Arrangements. 
(3) Detailed description of measure with reference to criteria:  
Disaster relief arrangements, administered by  the Government of Western Australia for 
eligible farming enterprises affected by the damage caused as a result of Cyclone Isobel, 
included: 
 Grants to obtain professional advice – reimbursement of fees to a maximum of $A1,500 
to obtain professional advice directly rela ted to addressing issues arising from the 
destruction caused by Cyclone Isobel.  Advice may relate to business or financial issues, 
hydrological or soil conservation issues, feed  analysis or other stock health issues. 
 Grants for restoration and clean-up – a primary grant of up to $A5,000 to assist with 
clean-up, removal of debris and restorati on of damaged property.  For those more 
severely affected a grant of up to $A15,000 can be made, supported by invoices of costs 
incurred. 
 
This programme is exempt fro m reduction commitments consiste nt with paragraph 8 – relief 
from natural disasters – of Annex 2 of the Agreement on Agriculture .  
(4) Cost of measure:  $A1.3 million 
(5) Date of entry into effect:   4 January 2007 
(6) Period of application:   31 July 2007 
(7) Products to principally benefit (if any individual product(s)):   
  
 This measure is non-product-specific.   G/AG/N/AUS/70 
 Page 3 
 
 
  Table DS:2 
 
DOMESTIC SUPPORT:  Australia  
Notification under Article 18:3 of the Agreement:  
New or modified domestic support measures exempt from reduction  
(1) Full title of measure:   Victorian Government Bushfire  Clean-up and Restoration Grants 
(2) Domestic legislation:   Nil 
(3) Detailed description of measure with reference to criteria:  
 
The Clean-up and Restoration Grant provided a one-off grant to primary producers who 
suffered direct damage as a result of the bushfires in the Gippsland, North-East, South-West 
and Little Desert regions in the Stat e of Victoria in 2006 and 2007. 
 Grants were provided for the clean-up, removal of  debris and business restoration.  An initial 
maximum of $A3,000 was available for immediate clean-up and/or stock welfare.  A further 
$A12,000 was available following a more detailed assessment. 
 This programme is exempt from the reduction commitment consistent with paragraph 8 – 
payments for relief from natural disasters – of Annex 2 of the Agreement on Agriculture . 
(4) Cost of measure:  $A1.4 million 
(5) Date of entry into effect:   3 January 2007 
(6) Period of application:    31 August 2007 
(7) Products to principally benefit (if any individual product(s)):   
 This measure is non-product-specific. G/AG/N/AUS/70 
Page 4  
 
  Table DS:2 
 
DOMESTIC SUPPORT:  Australia  
Notification under Article 18:3 of the Agreement:  
New or modified domestic support measures exempt from reduction  
(1) Full title of measure:  Victorian Government Wa ter Tank Rebate Scheme  
(2) Domestic legislation:   Nil 
(3) Detailed description of measure with reference to criteria: 
The Victoria Government Water Tank Rebate Scheme provides assistance for the purchase 
and installation of water tanks to eligible domestic and stock water customers who have not 
received a dam fill from bulk storages due to ongoing drought conditions. 
Domestic and stock water customers in the Grampians Wimmeria Mallee region are located in 
Australian Government declared 'Exceptional Circumstances' regions - suffering from prolonged and severe drought conditions.  ligible recipients in this region with registered house dams may receive between $A1,500 and $A3,000 for the purchase and installation of 
water tanks. 
The installation of water tanks will enable e ligible producers to better prepare and manage 
risks associated with the long-term drought conditions. 
This programme is exempt fro m reduction commitments consiste nt with paragraph 8 – relief 
from natural disasters – of Annex 2 of the Agreement on Agriculture . 
(4) Cost of measure:  Up to $A6 million 
(5) Date of entry into effect:   1 July 2006 
(6) Period of application:   30 June 2008 
(7) Products to principally benefit (if any individual product(s)): 
 This measure is non-product-specific.  G/AG/N/AUS/70 
 Page 5 
 
 
  Table DS:2 
 
DOMESTIC SUPPORT:  Australia  
Notification under Article 18:3 of the Agreement:  
New or modified domestic support measures exempt from reduction  
(1) Full title of measure:   Exceptional Circumstances Professional Advice and Planning Grant 
(2) Domestic legislation:   Nil 
(3) Detailed description of measure with reference to criteria:  
The Professional Advice and Planning Grant is  part of the Australian Government’s 
Exceptional Circumstances package of drou ght assistance measures.  This programme 
provides eligible farming businesses with access to professional advice and assistance to 
develop business plans which include drought and risk management strategies. 
Eligible applicants must be located in an  Australian Government declared 'Exceptional 
Circumstances' area su ffering from severe and prolonged droug ht and have been farming for 
more than two years.  Applicants are also subject to an assets test. 
The Professional Advice and Planning Grants of up to $A5,500 aim to enable eligible farming 
enterprises to: 
• access professional business and financial advice and planning assistance for the 
purpose of developing a farm business viability assessment; 
• develop a written farm business plan in corporating drought  and management 
strategies;  or 
• obtain financial and agronomic advice to id entify changes necessary to ensure that 
the farm business is in a positi on to recover from the drought. 
The Professional Advice and Planning Grants w ill assist farmers to prepare for and manage 
the risks associated with drought and climatic variability, assist in maintaining Australia's 
agricultural and environmental resource base dur ing periods of extreme climate stress and 
assist in early recovery of farm businesses from drought or climatic variability. 
This programme is exempt from the reduction co mmitment consistent w ith paragraph 2(d) – 
extension and advisory services – of Annex 2 of the Agreement on Agriculture.  
(4) Cost of measure:  $A26 million  
(5) Date of entry into effect:   24 October 2006 
(6) Period of application:   30 June 2009 
(7) Products to principally benefit (if any individual product(s)):   
  This measure is non-product-specific. G/AG/N/AUS/70 
Page 6  
 
  Table DS:2 
 
DOMESTIC SUPPORT:  Australia  
Notification under Article 18:3 of the Agreement:  
New or modified domestic support measures exempt from reduction  
(1) Full title of measure:   South Australian Government Pl anning for Recovery Programme 
(2) Domestic legislation:   Nil 
(3) Detailed description of measure with reference to criteria:  
The Planning for Recovery programme provides support to eligible farming enterprises who 
fall within the Australian Government’s declar ation of ‘Exceptional Circumstances’ for areas 
suffering from severe and prolonged drought conditions and are currently receiving an 
Exceptional Circumstances Interest Rate Subsidy. 
 The Planning for Recovery programme provid es assistance to farming enterprises of up to 
$A4,000 to access expert support and prepare co mprehensive business plans with an emphasis 
on recovery from drought and future risk ma nagement strategies. The programme also 
provides businesses with up to $A10,000 to undertake a range of approved on-farm projects 
identified in the business plan. 
 
This programme is exempt from the reducti on commitment consistent  with paragraph 8 –
payments for relief from natural disasters – of Annex 2 of the Agreement on Agriculture .   
(4) Cost of measure:  $A0.35 million 
(5) Date of entry into effect:   1 May 2007 
(6) Period of application:   31 March 2008 
(7) Products to principally benefit (if any individual product(s)):   
 
 This measure is non-product-specific.  G/AG/N/AUS/70 
 Page 7 
 
 
  Table DS:2 
 
DOMESTIC SUPPORT:  Australia  
Notification under Article 18:3 of the Agreement:  
New or modified domestic support measures exempt from reduction  
(1) Full title of measure:   South Australian Government Storm Damage Relief 2007 — Farm 
Business Assistance Grants  
(2) Domestic legislation:   Nil 
(3) Detailed description of measure with reference to criteria:  
A severe storm impacted on parts of the Renmar k irrigation district in the state of South 
Australia on 6 January 2007 causing significant dama ge to vines, fruit trees and infrastructure. 
The Farm Business Assistance Grants programme  provided payments of up to $A10,000 to 
assist affected farm business enterprises meet im mediate recovery costs attributable to the 
storm event. 
To be eligible for assistance, applicants mu st have suffered damage  to primary production 
infrastructure as a direct result of the 6 January 2007 storm. Details of losses were required to 
be supported by invoices or receipts evidencing recovery costs incurred by the applicant. 
 
This programme is exempt from the reducti on commitment consistent  with paragraph 8 –
payments for relief from natural disasters – of Annex 2 of the Agreement on Agriculture .   
(4) Cost of measure:  $A0.31 million 
(5) Date of entry into effect:   10 January 2007 
(6) Period of application:   15 March 2007 
(7) Products to principally benefit (if any individual product(s)):   
 
 This measure is non-product-specific. G/AG/N/AUS/70 
Page 8  
 
  Table DS:2 
 
DOMESTIC SUPPORT:  Australia  
Notification under Article 18:3 of the Agreement:  
New or modified domestic support measures exempt from reduction  
(1) Full title of measure:   Victorian Government Concessional Loans 2006/07 
(2) Domestic legislation:   Nil 
(3) Detailed description of measure with reference to criteria:  
 
Farming enterprises and landholders who suffe red losses as a result of certain bushfire 
damage in the State of Victoria were eligible  to apply for a concessional loan. Eligibility was 
determined on the basis of need, taking into account the cost of repairs or replacement, insurance recoveries and the financial resources available in each case. Capacity to service 
borrowings was a prerequisite for any assistance. 
 
Loans issued under this program bear interest at 2.90 per cent per annum for an initial period 
not exceeding five years. At the end of the in itial period, loans may be extended for a further 
period of up to ten years, but the interest rate  on any extended loan will be subject to review 
and will be set at, or close to, commercial hous ing interest rates prevailing at that time. 
 
Loans were generally limited to $A100,000 fo r any single advance. Where more than one 
advance was made the aggregate limit was $A150,000. 
 Loans totalling $A258,000 were made to prim ary producers at a cost to the Victorian 
Government of up to $A47,500 over 5 years.  
This programme is exempt from the reduction commitment consistent with paragraph 8 – 
payments for relief from natural disasters – of Annex 2 of the Agreement on Agriculture . 
(4) Cost of measure:  Up to $A0.05 million 
(5) Date of entry into effect:   3 January 2007 
(6) Period of application:   30 June 2007 
(7) Products to principally benefit (if any individual product(s)):   
 This measure is non-product-specific. 
  
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