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Half of all farms qualify for drought relief
31 May 2005
About 10,000 additional farmers are expected to be eligible to benefit from additional drought relief measures announced by the federal government. This will take the number of farming families eligible for drought assistance to more than 50,000, or more than half the nation’s farms. Interest rate subsidies will be increased to 80 per cent in the second year of assistance, from 50 per cent now. Spouses of farmers working outside the farm will be able to earn an additional $10,000 in off-farm income before Centrelink stops their welfare payments. The off-farm assets limit will be doubled to $435,000, from $217,500. The government said it would not make any cash grants.
The Australian, 31/05/05
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