Sharman Stone MP

Commotion in Parliament with Farm Exit Grant motion

November 23, 2011

A Farm Exit Grant debate became heated in Parliament on Monday night when Sharman Stone put up a private members motion seeking assistance for farming families who had seen their grants cut from under their feet.

Dr Stone, Federal Member for Murray, put up a motion calling on the Gillard Labor Government to provide financial support to farming families who had sold their farms prior to the program funding ceasing but who were awaiting contract settlement.

“Labor Government members questioned the need for the grant and its effectiveness as an attempt to deflect from their appalling mismanagement of the program. It became apparent that the Labor Government was aware that few applications could be funded well before the 12 month program extension announcement,” Sharman Stone said.

“I cannot understand why a Government would lead these familles to believe that their Exit Grant applications would be funded through pre-approvals and allowed them to progress with farm and livestock sales when the program was cancelled 6 weeks after its official budget announcement of a 12 month extension.

Sharman Stone told the Parliament, “I have farm families whose livelihoods are ruined. There is one family who had sold their livestock, their household goods, their water, their plant and equipment. They had put a small deposit on a small, modest home. Their children were told they would have to leave their beloved local school.

“That farm family had based their livelihood decision to sell because of the expectation of the $150,000 EC exit grant. They had already received the training component of the grant. They then received a phone call from Centrelink saying, 'We know, we understand the trauma that this entails, but we now cannot pay you that grant.'

“There at least 6 farm families caught in this same dilemma. They sold their farms at a discount or loss because they were told they were eligible for the relocation grant.

“I am begging the Minister for Agriculture, in conjunction with the Minister for Finance and with this Government, to approve Act of Grace payments urgently for these people. They acted in good faith. They took a traumatic and distressing decision on the basis that the Government would support them into a new life. It is not a decision they would have taken or could have taken without the expectation of this grant,” Sharman said.

“I encourage anyone with queries regarding the Farm Exit Grant to contact my office immediately on 5821 5371, “Sharman Stone said.