Free holidays for farmers hits snag: [2 All-round First Edition]
Stapleton, John. Weekend Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 24 Feb 2007: 10.
Abstract
The NFF promoted the offer late last year through its state member organisations and commodity councils, including Wool Producers and the Cattle Council of Australia, as well as through the federation's weekly newsletter. The NFF, the Federated Farmers of New Zealand and Jetstar last month began a joint promotion for the free holidays.
"To minimise the impact on farmers, the Government is working with the National Farmers Federation to try to make sure farmers receiving exceptional circumstance payments inform Centrelink about their departure and make contact with Centrelink once they return to reinstate their drought assistance," he said.
A SCHEME to give drought-stricken Australian farmers a free holiday in New Zealand has hit problems, with Centrelink refusing to continue welfare payments while the cockies are overseas.
Australia's National Farmers Federation began a campaign yesterday to alert its members to the fact their exceptional circumstance payments, provided under the Howard Government's drought-assistance program, would be cancelled for the duration of their overseas holiday.
Centrelink regulations state that for drought-affected farmers to be eligible for income support, they must be in Australia to recieve the money.
Under the scheme, Jetstar had offered to provide 100 free flights, while the Farmers Federation of New Zealand offered to provide free accommodation. The idea evolved from a proposal made at the FFNZ's annual general meeting in August, and Jetstar later came on board.
The NFF promoted the offer late last year through its state member organisations and commodity councils, including Wool Producers and the Cattle Council of Australia, as well as through the federation's weekly newsletter. The NFF, the Federated Farmers of New Zealand and Jetstar last month began a joint promotion for the free holidays.
NFF president David Crombie said some farmers might now decide it was not worth taking up the offer of the holiday.
"We had hoped the generous offer from New Zealand farmers and Jetstar to provide some respite for our drought-stricken farmers might yield a reprieve from the Government on what appears to be an overly bureaucratic detail," he said.
"But we have been advised an exemption is not possible."
A spokesman for Agriculture Minister Peter McGauran said all farmers in receipt of emergency government benefits had their payments suspended while they were out of the country.
"To minimise the impact on farmers, the Government is working with the National Farmers Federation to try to make sure farmers receiving exceptional circumstance payments inform Centrelink about their departure and make contact with Centrelink once they return to reinstate their drought assistance," he said.
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