Senator Nash backs first farm grant plan

A NSW Farmers Association plan to introduce a federally-funded first farm buyers grant for new farmers has won the enthusiastic backing of Nationals Senator Fiona Nash. “This is a visionary plan not just to give young farmers the support they deserve but to boost Australian food security,” Senator Nash said. Under the proposal first farm buyers would be eligible for a grant of 10 per cent of the land purchase price, to a limit of $100,000. Senator Nash said first homebuyers had just won substantially increased grants and it was time to offer similar support to the people who fed them. “Agriculture is a $10 billion industry in NSW providing more than 30 per cent of jobs and over 40 per cent of the state’s economic activity, according to the ABS,” Senator Nash said. “Yet the average age of NSW farmers is 50 with just 12 per cent under the age of 35.” “Our future food security depends on getting more young people into farming, but the entry costs are prohibitive without independent wealth or government support” “We clearly need more incentive and assistance for a new generation of farmers to take up the challenge of feeding Australia and boosting our exports.” “That is why I am writing to the Prime Minister and the Minister for Agriculture in support of this NSW Farmers Association initiative.” The state Nationals took a similar policy, titled The First Farmers Assistance Scheme, to the March 2007 NSW election.

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Comments

# Adam Brien

Friday, February 19, 2010 2:17 PM

This would great news if it could get passed. It may prevent the amount of young people leaving the land to take up other fields of work in the cities or most importantly in the mines.
I'm a 27 year old Grazier, working on the family farm. With having a large family the farm isn't sustainable for all of us to stay. So this would be a great initiative for people to stay on the land.
This would increase productivity to the industry and most importantly it would be great to see Australian agriculture industry a force to be reckoned with internationally and more importantly on our own shores domestically, with a ever increasing population.
I have difficulty seeing why any politician would have problem supporting it as generates to every sector of business throughout Australia and ultimately strengthen the Australian economy.
My Check Book is Ready.. LETS DO SOMETHING BEFORE ITS TO LATE.

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# George

Monday, November 21, 2011 10:58 PM

Would be an amazing thing for rural Australia. Has there been any developments?

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