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AGHA News

11 Mar, 2008

Extension of EC - Tony Burke

AGHA requsts Tony Burke to extend EC past September 2008.
Category: General
Posted by: admin
AUSTRALIAN GRAIN HARVESTERS ASSOCIATION INC
ABN: 68050677224

President:    Peter Bradley 20 Barklay Court Benaraby 4680. Ph 0749750557
Secretary:    Mick Crowe. PO Box 344 Cowra 2794. Ph. 0263424121
Treasurer:    Rod Gribble PO Box 555 Yenda 2681. Ph 0269681741
Administrator: Deborah Baldwin PO Box 901 Bathurst 2795. Ph 0263342715
Email info@agha.org.au www.agha.org.au


The Hon Tony Burke MP
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry
PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra. ACT. 2600.
tony.burke.mp@aph.gov.au

Dear Mr Burke,

I’m writing to you seeking your support & efforts in extending the Small Business Exceptional Circumstances Interest Rate Subsidy for professional contract harvesters beyond September 2008.

AGHA has represented professional contract grain harvesters nationally, for over 30 years.   AGHA, through its members, has worked alone & with, rural associations, local, State & Federal authorities for the betterment of its members & the grains industry as a whole. Professional contract grain harvesters are a vital & integral part of Australia’s grain industry & rural communities.

As you would be well aware, the last 5 years have been without precedence as far as the unrelenting drought that has captured the major grain growing areas of eastern Australia. As a consequence, professional contract harvesters who normally harvest over $2.3b worth of grain (farm gate value) have been financially devastated with incomes being far less than costs. Whilst there have been some good rains in Queensland & northern NSW that has given some confidence to those who were fortunate enough to be under a thunderstorm, the disparity between the north & the southern grain growing areas of Australia is extremely stark & disturbing. Especially hard hit are those in the south where irrigation water has been near non-existent, so there has been no contract harvesting of crops.

AGHA requests an extension of the Small Business Exceptional Circumstances Interest Rate Subsidy for at least 12 months past the September 2008 cut-off so as to provide support to those businesses that will still find it difficult to meet essential financial commitments.

Additionally, AGHA would like to be able to run Business Management Workshops (BMW) for our new & existing members to improve our financial viability, but as professional contract harvesters we are unable to access these programs or funding under the likes of the FarmBis initiative, which is specifically designed for this purpose. 

A logical extension of BMW’s is the Farm Management Deposits scheme. AGHA would like the Farm Management Deposits scheme extended to professional contract harvesters so we have the facility to self-manage our business through difficult times. 

AGHA looks forward to your efforts & positive outcomes in these matters as outlined. Please feel free to contact myself, or our President, for any clarification or further information.

Yours sincerely,
Rod Gribble
Treasurer
11th March 2008.


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