WHAT'S IN THE AGRICULTURE WHITE PAPER:
DROUGHT
* $250 million in drought concessional loans each year for 11 years
* $22.8 million to increase farm household allowance case management for farmers
* Boost to financial counselling services, access to community mental health programs, ATO advice
* Farmers can access farm management deposits when needed without losing tax concessions.
CASH:
* Banks to let farmers use farm management deposits as business loan offset - reducing interest costs by up to $150 million annually
* Farmers to opt back into income tax averaging after 10 years, from July 1, 2016
* Farmers to double their deposits to $800,000, from July 1, 2016
* $11 million to boost engagement within ACCC - including new commissioner to settle disputes between farmers and supermarkets
* $13.8 million for two-year pilot program studies into cooperatives, collective bargaining and new farm business models.
DAMS, TOWERS, RESEARCH:
* $500 million national water infrastructure fund ($50 million for future water infrastructure planning; $450 million for construction; $200 million dedicated to northern Australia projects)
* Expanding CSIRO's Transport Network Strategic Investment Tool on improving beef transport routes
* Additional $60 million for mobile black spot program
* $100 million to extend Rural R&D for Profit Programme to 2021-22
* $50 million to boost emergency pest and disease eradication
* $50 million for better tools and control methods against pest animals and weeds
* $1.4 million to match industry levies and contributions in export fodder and tea tree oil industries
* $1.2 million for Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation.
BIOSECURITY:
* $200 million to boost biosecurity surveillance and analysis nationally
* $30.8 million to boost trade and for five new overseas agriculture counsellors
* $12.4 million to modernise food export traceability systems.
(SOURCE: Agriculture White Paper)
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