Leasehold land rent deferral available for drought-affected producers
Published Wednesday, 18 October, 2006 at 06:00 AM
Minister for Natural Resources and Water
The Honourable Kerry Shine
The Queensland Government will allow drought-declared primary producers to defer their leasehold land rental payments, Natural Resources and Water Minister Kerry Shine said.
Mr Shine said any drought-declared primary producers on Category 1 (grazing and agriculture) leases can apply to the Department of Natural Resources and Water for deferral of rents under hardship provisions.
"The deferral of rents for drought is offered in recognition of the financial impacts on landholders. Any deferral of rent continues to be available past the revocation of the drought declaration," Mr Shine said.
Sixty-four shires and five part shires in Queensland, approximately 60.5% of the State’s land area, is currently drought declared. An additional 248 individual properties in another 14 shires are also drought declared.
Since July 2005, the Government has frozen leasehold land rents for Category 1 leasehold land.
Currently, the rent on 97% of Category 1 leasehold land leases (or more than 11,800 leases) is $100 or less per week. The rent on 72% of Category 1 leases is $10 or less per week.
In 2005, the Government initiated a 10-year review of the Land Regulation 1995 and this has involved a review of all State leasehold rents.
Mr Shine said the Government was continuing to discuss the review with stakeholders, including AgForce.
Queensland Government's drought assistance program for primary producers is administered by the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries. Exceptional circumstances drought assistance in Queensland is administered by QRAA.
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