The Morrison Government has extended the construction commencement requirement for the successful HomeBuilder program from six months to 18 months for all existing applicants, bringing the total level of expected Government support for the construction sector under the program to $2.5 billion.
 
The extension only applies to existing applicants and provides an additional 12 months to commence construction from the date that the building contract was signed. All applicants who signed contracts during the HomeBuilder eligibility period between 4 June 2020 and 31 March 2021 have this extension applied to them.
 
Applications closed on the 14th of April, however, applicants have until 30 April 2023 to submit all supporting documentation (such as invoices for work done, and proof that construction has started) to their State or Territory Revenue Office.
 
The supporting documentation will allow for the payment of the HomeBuilder grant. Timing of the payment depends on whether an application relates to a new build, substantial renovation or off-the plan / new home purchase.
 
More information on HomeBuilder can be found on the Treasury website.

The assistance may be available in the following local government area(s)
Carnamah, Chapman Valley, Greater Geraldton, Mingenew, Morawa, Perenjori and Three Springs

The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) provides one-off financial assistance to eligible Australians adversely affected by Tropical Cyclone Seroja.

The rate of AGDRP is $1000 per eligible adult and $400 per eligible child. Claims for this payment can be lodged with Services Australia for a period up to 6 months.

AGDRP is available for people who have been seriously injured, have lost their homes or whose homes have been directly damaged, whose major assets have been directly damaged or are the immediate family members of a person who has died as a direct result of Tropical Cyclone Seroja.

The Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA) provides income support payments to employees, primary producers and sole traders who can demonstrate they have experienced a loss of income as a direct result of Tropical Cyclone Seroja.

DRA provides fortnightly payments for up to 13 weeks up to the applicable rate of JobSeeker Payment or Youth Allowance, depending on the person's circumstances.

DRA is available to Australian residents who are 16 years and older.

DRA is not available to those already receiving another income support payment or pension such as the Age Pension, JobSeeker Payment or Service Pension.

You have until 14 October 2021 to lodge a claim for AGDRP.

For more information on eligibility, visit the Services Australia website or contact the Australian Government Information Hotline on 180 22 66 for claims assistance.

The joint Australian, state and territory governments' Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) provide a range of financial assistance to the natural disaster-declared areas in each state or territory.

For Tropical Cyclone Seroja from 11 April 2021, the available assistance measures include:

• personal hardship and distress assistance
• demolition or rebuilding
• removal of debris
• extraordinary counter disaster operations
• personal and financial counselling
• counter disaster operations
• reconstruction of essential public assets
• interest rate subsidy to small businesses and primary producers
• freight subsidies for primary producers

For information on available recovery assistance, visit the Western Australia Department of Fire & Emergency Services website.

The Department of Communities Disaster and Emergency Support Services

Provides welfare services to eligible people impacted by an emergency through: emergency accommodation; catering; clothing; personal requisites (e.g. toiletries and pharmaceuticals); personal support services; and financial assistance for essential items.
Disaster Relief Hotline 1800 032 965 or email emergencyservices@communities.wa.gov.au  
 
Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment

A one-off, non-means tested payment of $1,000 for eligible adults and $400 for children affected by a disaster. To Claim call 180 22 66 https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/subjects/tropical-cyclone-seroja-april-2021
 
Disaster Recovery Allowance

A short-term income support payment to help individuals who can show that the disaster directly impacted their income. To Claim call 180 22 66 https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/subjects/tropical-cyclone-seroja-april-2021
 
Services Australia Payment and Service Finder

This online tool can be used to see what other payments and services are available, such as income support payments, child care subsidy and support for school aged children.
 
Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements Western Australia (DRFAWA)

The DRFAWA is a joint Commonwealth – State arrangement that provides financial assistance following eligible natural disaster or terrorist events. It provides specific relief and recovery measures and does not fund all recovery activities. DRFAWA assistance measures are made available to support the recovery of affected individuals, communities, small businesses and primary producers within impacted local governments.
 
Lord Mayor's Distress Relief Fund (LMDRF)

The LMDRF is the recognised state emergency fund and provides relief for personal hardship and distress arising from natural disasters occurring within Western Australia. https://appealswa.org.au/apply-for-assistance/
 
Legal Aid Western Australia (Legal Aid WA)

Legal Aid WA may coordinate free legal advice and referrals to people impacted by a disaster. Assistance may include help with: insurance claims, ability to service a mortgage, debts, property, housing and replacing important documents.
Legal Aid WA’s Infoline 1300 650 579

Funding is available under the Modern Manufacturing Initiative and supports the Australian Government’s $1.5 billion Modern Manufacturing Strategy.

From today businesses with projects focused on resources technology and critical minerals processing can apply for grants under the Modern Manufacturing Initiative (MMI) in the Manufacturing Translation stream and the Manufacturing Integration stream – applications are open until 5.00pm AEDT 1 April 2021.
 
Information about the new program, including the grant opportunity guidelines and a link to the online application form, is available at business.gov.au/mmit for the Translation stream and business.gov.au/mmii for the Integration stream. You can watch a recorded information session on YouTube via business.gov.au that provides an overview of the MMI and general information on accessing the grants available.

Securing Raw Materials Program

The Securing Raw Materials Program (SRMP) provides funding of up to $5m for businesses relocating to regional areas, partnering with a regional research institution and undertaking research into, and development of, innovative and locally sourced raw material supplies (including establishing new suppliers or products and value-adding to existing known supplies).  “Projects in the minerals extraction and traditional energy production sectors are not eligible for grant funding”.

Closes:   Wednesday, 24 March 2021

For more information:  www.business.gov.au/srmp

Opportunity for Regional CRC-Ps within the CRC-P Grant Program, Round 11

In support of the Government’s Regional Decentralisation Agenda, CRC-P Grant Program Round 11 will provide up to $6 million for two Regional CRC-P’s to boost research and development projects in regional areas.
This opportunity is offered to CRC-Ps based in regional Australia only, with at least one Australian industry partner relocating from a capital city for the duration of the project.

Background
Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) Grants provide matched funding of between $100,000 and $3 million to support short term (up to 3 years), industry led research collaborations. The grant supports the advancement of regional industries.
 This funding can be used to:

• Generate new research
• Proof concept activities
• Pre-commercialise research outcomes
• Deliver industry focussed education and training activities, conferences, workshops and symposia’s related to the joint research
• Share information and communication related to the research
  

Applications
Applications close on 25 March, 5pm (AEDT). Additional information is available at: https://www.business.gov.au/grants-and-programs/cooperative-research-centres-projects-crcp-grants

The Indigenous Tourism Fund has been developed in consultation with the Indigenous tourism sector and includes business support and grants for Indigenous owned tourism businesses.
 
The Indigenous Tourism Fund will also be used to invest in activities and initiatives to boost the Indigenous Tourism sector as a whole. Up to $17 million will be co-invested with the states and territories for Strategic Indigenous Tourism Projects that generate supply chain opportunities for Indigenous owned tourism businesses. This investment will be in partnership with state and territory governments.
 
Applications for the Grant program can be submitted from 22 February to 22 March 2021
 
For more information see – Indigenous Tourism Fund

Grants from $10,000 to $250,000 are available to Australian businesses, to ease the financial pressures faced by business event organisers. This funding will cover:

• the cancellation costs of planned events due to COVID-19 outbreaks
• provide incentives for Australian Businesses to participate as buyers/sellers at pre-approved events from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021 and
• promote Australian business capabilities to a domestic audience.

 
Applications close at 5pm (AEDT) on 30 March 2021, or earlier if funding is exhausted.
 
Additional information is available at: https://www.business.gov.au/grants-and-programs/business-events-grants
 

Visions of Australia – Round 12
Funding of $1,200,000 has been allocated to Australian arts and cultural heritage organisations to support audience access to Australian arts and cultural material of historic, scientific, design, social or artistic significance for projects commencing after 1 July 2021. Funding is delivered through 2 streams:

• development and touring of exhibitions, with a particular focus on remote and regional Australia and
• supporting costs such as research, design, production, transport, installation and personnel.

There is no funding cap for individual applications.
The vision of Australia Round 12 funding is now open and will close on 5 March 2021, 5pm (AEDT).
Additional information is available at: https://www.arts.gov.au/funding-and-support/visions-australia

Guidelines for Round 5 of the Building Better Regions Fund have now been released.  They can be found at: www.business.gov.au/bbrf or through the Grant Portal on the RDAMWG website.
Applications will open for Round 5 on 12 January 2021 and close on 5 March 2021. 

In these unprecedented times of COVID-19, many Australians are looking for work.

Many growers and farmers urgently need workers to meet their harvest demand so they can continue to provide Australians with fresh Australian-grown produce.

The Australian Government’s Harvest Trail Services (HTS) is here to help. It is a government funded program, so there is no cost to use the service.

HTS providers can help employers advertise their harvest jobs, find workers and link people looking for work with harvest employment opportunities. Job seekers can visit the Harvest Trail Services Jobs Board to find employers who are looking to hire, and farmers and growers can advertise their harvest labour needs through a Harvest Trail Services provider or directly on the Jobs Board.

Importantly, from 1 November 2020 to 31 December 2021, job seekers may be eligible for financial assistance to help with the costs of travel and accommodation when they relocate to take up short-term seasonal harvest or agricultural work. Visit the Harvest Trail website for more information about Relocation Assistance to Take Up A Job for short-term Agricultural Work.

The Australian Government recognises and commends the important ongoing work of the Regional Development Australia Network (RDA) in driving economic development and growth across regional Australia. 
 
Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Territories, the Hon Nola Marino MP, today announced the Australian Government’s recommitment to the RDA Network, including RDAMWG under a new funding agreement and refreshed Charter.

“RDAMWG will continue to play an important role supporting the economic recovery of the region as it emerges from COVID-19 and recent bushfire/drought crises. RDAs are a highly valued and respected network of volunteers and staff who drive economic development in our regions and provide critical intelligence back to the Australian Government about key issues impacting local communities’, Mrs Marino said.

The Network involves 52 RDAs across Australia, including the Indian Ocean Territories and Norfolk Island. RDAs work with all levels of government, business and community groups to support economic and workforce development, local procurement, strategic regional planning and to inform programs and infrastructure investments.

RDA Committees are made up of passionate and dedicated local leaders with a broad range of experience, including from local government, business, community and the not-for-profit sectors.

A refreshed RDA Charter will emphasise greater alignment across all levels of government and regional planning that identifies and advocates strategic long-term investment priorities.

The value of the nation-wide network has been highlighted recently during COVID-19 and the bushfire crises.

 “RDAMWG has been providing important information back to Government on impacts to the region’s businesses and communities. This local intelligence continues to inform government policymaking, ensuring the issues specific to our region are on Government’s radar,” said RDA Mid West Gascoyne Chair, Yvonne Messina

Australia’s regions are diverse, although they also face many similar challenges. RDAs network, share information, and collaborate across the country to develop innovations and solutions that can be adapted across the country.

The Government’s to regions will be further enhanced by redirecting the role of RDA, Melbourne, Perth to focus on working with regional RDAs in WA to identify and connect their regions with decentralisation and economic development opportunities coming out of the capital city.
​
Regional Australia and RDA Committees will play an important role in revitalising Australia’s economy as we emerge from COVID-19. The new funding agreement and revised Charter will provide a strong basis for this work.
For more information on the RDA program please go to www.infrastructure.gov.au and www.rda.gov.au or www.rdamwg.com.au
​

30/9/2020 Following the National Cabinet meeting on 4 September 2020 it has been announced that NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Northern Territory and the ACT have agreed to adopt the National Agricultural Workers’ Code (Code) to facilitate the movement of critical agricultural industry workers across domestic borders where border restrictions are in place. The Code is important in mitigating animal health, welfare and biosecurity risks.
A copy of the Code can be found here:
​ https://www.agriculture.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/agriculture-workers-code.pdf

30/09/2020. ​Grants are now open for the 'Natural Resource Management Drought Resilience Program'.  These grants are for organisations, farmer groups and individuals who can deliver innovative NRM approaches to build drought resilience in agricultural areas. Funds are between $20,000 and $200,000.   For details follow the link below:
​https://www.communitygrants.gov.au/grants/future-drought-fund-natural-resource-management-drought-resilie