Senator Matt Canavan in Senate Estimates this week – not a single cent has gone to farmers?.

WESTERN Australia’s sheep farmers are waiting to experience any direct benefits of the $139.8 million live sheep transition package while millions have already been spent on government expenses.

At Senate Estimates yesterday, under questioning by Senator Matt Canavan, the Department of Agriculture’ Fisheries and Forestry’s first assistant secretary Nick Blong said $33.9million of the $139.8 million transition package had been spent.

However, Mr Blong admitted that none of the $33.9 million had gone direct to farm businesses, while $2.43 million had been expended by DAFF running the transition program.

“But there are benefits to producers from a range of programs,” Mr Blong said.

DAFF first assistant secretary Nick Blong – no funds direct to farmer businesses yet.

He said the grant programs for farmers and others in the supply chain were in the process of being closed, including a supply chain capacity program through the Western Australian State Government, a farm business transition program and livestock transport grants program.

“You’ve spent about a fifth of the funds and not a single cent has gone to farmers – is that correct? Senator Canavan asked.

“Well Senator, obviously farm businesses can benefit from assistance in a number of ways, not just through direct payments, but certainly those programs that we could roll out quickly … are programs that are well underway.”

Mr Blong said some of the programs that require further design work and announced by the government in July and DAFF had moved quickly into grant delivery.

“We are working quickly to deliver aspects of this package as quickly as we possibly can.”

DAFF’s assistant secretary Jo Grainger said $2.453 million of the $33.9m had been expended on departmental expenses.

“It’s more than farmers have got,” Senator Canavan said.

Mr Grainger said to date 191 applications had been received for the farm business transition grant that closed on Monday, but due to a late application process the department won’t have a final number until 9 December. She said there has been no analysis on the submissions and eligibility checks needed to be done.

Revelations not surprising – Littleproud

Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said the revelations that he department has received more financial benefit from the transition package than impacted live sheep farmers were startling but unfortunately not surprising.

“Impacted farmers are having their livelihoods thrown into turmoil under this government, but Labor thinks it’s more important to cover the cost of bureaucracy rather than actually deliver some direct support to those who need it the most,” Mr Littleproud said.

“Adding further insult to this shambolic process is that farmers are being forced to compete with one another, because Labor has put a cap on assistance grants.

“Farmers applying for Labor’s Farm Business Transition program assistance grant will be forced to find up to $75,000 of their own money as a co-contribution before Christmas,” he said.

“This ‘grant’ process is insulting and clearly designed to make farmers fail and unable to meet the terms and conditions.”

The Nationals said while round one of the grants process has now closed, the package comes more than four years since Labor was first elected and said it would ban the industry.

Another grant for supply chain capacity also requires farmers to find up to $2 million as a co-contribution.

“Labor is having a lend of farmers if it thinks farmers have a spare $2 million laying around.

“Labor’s tormenting grants process is cruel and callous and shows the utter contempt Labor has for the live sheep industry.

“Labor knows it is spruiking a grant that impacted farmers can’t actually afford to apply for,” he said.

“Labor knows the live sheep export trade has no future and doesn’t care about our farmers.

“This is all about Labor buying votes in the inner-city seats, not helping farmers who need it.”