WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  G/AG/N/AUS/74 
13 July 2009 
 (09-3414) 
Committee on Agriculture Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION  
 
  The following submission, dated 24 June 2009, 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/74 
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:   Exceptional Circumstances (EC) Exit Package 
 
(2) Domestic legislation:   Farm Household Support Act 1992 
 
(3) Detailed description of measure with reference to criteria:  
 
 EC Exit Package assists primary producers in EC  declared areas to exit farming, ensuring 
there is sufficient financial support available to enable re-establishment outside farming. 
 
 The Exit Grant, of up to $A150,000 is a one-o ff, time-limited payment to farmers who have 
chosen to leave farming.  Farmers who are elig ible for the EC Exit Grant can also receive:  
 
• up to $A10,000 for professional a dvice and retraining to help them plan for life after 
farming;   
• and up to $A10,000 to help with reloca tion expenses and to access job seeking services 
after they have sold the farm. 
 
 This program is exempt from the reduction commitments consistent with Paragraph 9 - 
Structural adjustment assistance through producer retirement programs - of Annex 2 of the 
Agreement on Agriculture. 
 (4) Cost of measure:  $A4.59 million in 2007–08. 
 
(5) Date of entry into effect:   The EC Exit Package was announced on 25 September 2007.  
 
(6) Period of application:    
 
 A claim for payment under the EC Exit Package can be made up to and including 
30 June 2009.  If an applicant has made genuine attempts to sell his/her property but has been 
unable to do so by 30 June 2009, the deadline may be extended to 30 June 2010. 
 (7) Products to principally benefit (if any individual product(s)):   
 
 This measure is non-product-specific.  G/AG/N/AUS/74 
 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:   Irrigation Industries Workshop Program 
 
(2) Domestic legislation:   Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 (FMA Act) 
 
(3) Detailed description of measure with reference to criteria:  
 
As a result of historically low storages in the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) in 2007, most irrigators across the Basin commenced the 200 7-08 water year with zero or significantly 
reduced water allocations.  
 In recognition that some irrigators would requi re assistance to manage their business through 
this unprecedented situation, a new informa tion workshop program was developed.  The 
information workshops provided irrigators with practical and expert advice on issues such as 
improving water use efficiency, minimisi ng production losses and improving production 
planning.  The program is exempt from the reduction comm itments consistent w ith Paragraph 2(d) - 
extension and advisory services - of A nnex 2 of the Agreement on Agriculture. 
 
(4) Cost of measure:  $A7.4 million (funding is for two years). 
 
(5) Date of entry into effect:   Deeds of Funding were signed with five delivery organisations in 
November 2007. 
 
(6) Period of application:    November 2007 to 30 June 2009. 
 
(7) Products to principally benefit (if any individual product(s)):   
 
 The workshops focus on five industries – dairy, horticulture, wine, rice and cotton. 
 G/AG/N/AUS/74 
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:   Regional Economic Development Fund 
 
(2) Domestic legislation:   N/A 
 
(3) Detailed description of measure with reference to criteria:  
 
 This program assists to stimulate and suppor t regional economic development, through the 
provision of training services to educate regional communities about business and agricultural 
practices. 
  This program is exempt from reduction comm itments consistent with Paragraph 2(c) - 
training services - under Annex 2 of the Agreement on Agriculture. 
 
(4) Cost of measure:  $A10,000 
 (5) Date of entry into effect:   1 July 2007 
 
(6) Period of application:    1 July 2007 to 30 June 2008 
 
(7) Products to principally benefit (if any individual product(s)):   
 
 This measure is non-product-specific.   G/AG/N/AUS/74 
 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:  Special Disaster Flood Assistance Scheme 
 
(2) Domestic legislation:  Rural and Regional Adjustment Regulation 2000 
 
(3) Detailed description of measure with reference to criteria:  
 
 The Special Disaster Flood Assistance Scheme pr ovides grants to assist in meeting the needs 
of primary producers and small businesses who suffered direct damage from monsoonal 
flooding in January and February 2008.   
  This program is exempt from reduction commit ments consistent with Paragraph 8 - Payments 
for relief from natural disasters - under A nnex 2 of the Agreement on Agriculture. 
 
(4) Cost of measure: $A41.7 million over the duration of the program. 
 (5) Date of entry into effect:  The Special Disaster Flood Assistance Scheme came into effect on 
31 January 2008. 
 
(6) Period of application:  The period of application was from 1 February 2008 to 
31 August 2008. 
 
(7) Products to principally benefit (if any individual product(s)):  
  Beef, cattle, sheep and sugar. 
   G/AG/N/AUS/74 
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:  Sustainable Farming Families – 2007/08 
 
(2) Domestic legislation:  Nil  
 
(3) Detailed description of measure with reference to criteria:   
 
 The Sustainable Farming Families (SFF) program focuses on improving the physical and 
mental health of farmers and their families.  The initiative covers a range of areas including 
cardiovascular disease, cancer, stress, diabet es, farm safety, nutrition and anxiety and 
depression. 
  Participants receive health assessment as part of the workshops and the program is free to all 
Victorian farmers and their families.  
 
 Workshop content is linked to relevant hea lth issues predominant in farming and rural 
populations.  Benchmark indicators and drivers of  farm family health care are compiled and 
advice is given on how these can be linked into  farm business plans and farm benchmarking 
systems. 
 
 This program is exempt from reduction comm itments consistent with Paragraph 2(d) - 
extension and advisory services—under Annex 2 of the Agreement on Agriculture. 
 (4) Cost of measure: $A5.08 million (total from 2007 to 2012). 
 
(5) Date of entry into effect:   October 2007 
 (6) Period of application:   October 2007 to June 2012 
 
(7) Products to principally benefit (if any individual product(s) ):   
 
 This measure is non-product-specific.  G/AG/N/AUS/74 
 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:  Agriculture Recovery Response – 2007/08 
 
(2) Domestic legislation:  Nil  
 
(3) Detailed description of measure with reference to criteria:   
 
 This program provides free advice to communiti es impacted by drought to encourage more 
active planning and long term drought solutio ns.  Following a case-by-case analysis and 
visitation to determine individual circumstance s, drought recovery plans are established to 
ensure a more sustainable and planned approach to drought. 
  This program is exempt from reduction comm itments consistent with Paragraph 2(d) - 
extension and advisory services— under Annex 2 of the Agreement on Agriculture. 
 
(4) Cost of measure:  $A5 million  
 (5) Date of entry into effect:    August 2007  
 
(6) Period of application:    August 2007 to June 2008 
 
(7) Products to principally benefit (if any individual product(s) ):   
 
 This measure is non-product-specific. G/AG/N/AUS/74 
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:  Drought Communications – 2007/08 
 
(2) Domestic legislation:  Nil  
 
(3) Detailed description of measure with reference to criteria:   
 
 The Victorian Government developed a drought  assistance package for farmers and rural 
communities in response to the hardships caused by the prolonged dry conditions across the 
state. 
  The package included a Drought Communications  program which provided advice to farmers 
on how to access information and assistance.  It focused on engaging with  farmers who have 
not yet accessed support.  
  
 This program is exempt from reduction comm itments consistent with Paragraph 2(d) - 
extension and advisory services - under Annex 2 of the Agreement on Agriculture. 
 
(4) Cost of measure:     $A1.5 million  
 
(5) Date of entry into effect:   24 October 2007 
 (6) Period of application:    24 October 2007 to 30 June 2008 
 
(7) Products to principally benefit (if any individual product(s) ):   
 
 This measure is non-product-specific.  G/AG/N/AUS/74 
 Page 9 
 
 
  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:    Additional Extension for Decision Support – 2007/08 
 
(2) Domestic legislation:  Nil  
 
(3) Detailed description of measure with reference to criteria:   
 
 The Victorian Government developed a drought  assistance package for farmers and rural 
communities in response to the hardships caused by the prolonged dry conditions across the 
state. 
  The package included one-on-one technical advice and information to inform decisions by 
farmers affected by drought and low water avai lability.  The program utilised the services of 
experienced extension staff a nd other key service providers. 
 
 The program also provided drought assistance pr oject grants of up to $A75,000 for industry 
groups to provide training and advisory services to farming communities. 
  This program is exempt from reduction comm itments consistent with Paragraph 2(d) - 
extension and advisory services - under Annex 2 of the Agreement on Agriculture. 
 (4) Cost of measure:    $A0.8 million  
 (5) Date of entry into effect:   24 October 2007 
 
(6) Period of application:    24 October 2007 to 30 June 2008  
 
(7) Products to principally benefit (if any individual product(s):   
 
 This measure is non-product-specific.  
 
 
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