Rural

Changes to stamp duty win for farming families

Family-owned farming businesses will benefit from new laws passed in Parliament last week that will see stamp duty exemptions extended on the transfer of primary production land to a company or other entity directed by a family member.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the move would help futureproof farms for generations to come.

“Farmers are the backbone of bush communities and the State’s economy, and they have worked tirelessly to keep our supermarket shelves stocked despite every possible challenge thrown at them over the past few years,” Mr Toole said.

“NSW is home to a diverse range of primary industries, and this move makes it easier for the next generation to follow in their families’ footsteps, whether it be in beef, dairy, poultry, wool or cropping operations.

“As of 1 July 2021, there were almost 240,000 rural properties in NSW worth an estimated $203 billion – these new laws will help ensure the farming sector continues to go from strength to strength.”

Minister for Finance Damien Tudehope said the removal of stamp duty for family-owned companies, trusts or entities would cut costs and help support the next generation of NSW farmers.

“We want to support more family businesses in our regions to continue being the thriving heart of country communities,” Mr Tudehope said.

“Under the current stamp duty legislation, if someone wanted to pass their farm on to a child’s trust or company to operate, there would be stamp duty charged on that transfer.

“This simply doesn’t make sense. This is a fairer proposal, which will modernise family farming business practices.”

Under existing legislation, only a member of the family is exempt from duty tax when buying the land.

There are almost 150,000 primary production properties in NSW that may be eligible for this proposed exemption.

Canegrowers Chairman Paul Schembri is retiring this month after 39 years as a tenacious and dedicated grower representative. joined a local growers’ committee as a 23-yearold in 1983, has served tirelessly in a range of Cangrowers roles while also running a farm in the Mackay region with his brother.

He is one of Australia’s longest serving farm leaders and is well known in the Australian and international sugar industry communities.

Mr Schembri has been the Cangrowers Chairman since 2013, during which period he also served as Chairman of the Australian Cane Growers Council. He is currently Vice-President of the World Association of Beet and Cane Growers.

Mr Schembri, who decided not to run for re-election in 2022, said today’s sugar industry is unrecognisable from the one he joined in the 1980s, having evolved through crippling low sugar prices, rapid expansion, deregulation and, in recent years, the drive to meet community and government expectations of environmental responsibility.

“The great opportunity that I had was to start so young,” Mr Schembri said.

“It’s a great privilege to represent growers on the state, national and international stage.

“The industry has been here for over 150 years, we’re one of the oldest, most mature industries in Australia and we will continue to adapt.

“World sugar prices are currently strong and Australian cane growers are well positioned to demonstrate our environmental credentials as some of the most environmentally sustainable farmers in the world.

“Challenges will come and go but if we stay united and get our voice out there, we will have a bright future.”

Mr Schembri is looking forward to spending more time farming.

“I felt it was a good time for me to retire and a good time for the organisation to reset. Renewal is a great thing,” he said.

A meeting in May of the new Canegrowers Policy Council, constituted after the organisation’s triennial elections in every sugarcane region of Queensland, will vote on the next Chairman of the organisation.

Beekeeping Supplies SHIPPING CONTAINERS

20ft & 40ft Storage

Best Prices Lease or Buy On or Off Site BREWHOUSE VILLAGE

LOCALLY OWNED IN GRAFTON

160-170 North St GRAFTON 6642 8168 - 0439 445 654

Farmers and landholders who have coastaldraining properties will have greater water security following the NSW Government’s harvestable rights increase.

Minister for Lands and Water, Kevin Anderson, said some landholders would now be able to capture more of the rainfall runoff from their properties, boosting their operations and helping them better prepare for

“When it comes to managing water my view is healthy rivers, healthy farms and healthy communities, not one or the other,” Mr Anderson said. “The NSW Government is committed to growing the economy and this is great news for our coastal farms and businesses.

“As of today landholders, under strict conditions, can store more water for stock watering, domestic use and certain types of agriculture, supporting farming, local jobs and regional economies.”

Water captured through increased harvestable rights will be restricted to certain uses.

There are limitations on where new dams can be built to balance the needs of the environment and downstream water users.

The increase allows farmers to capture rainfall runoff, subject including that any increase is used only for domestic and stock use and extensive agricultural activities.

It comes after a NSW Government review which included hydrological modelling and extensive community consultation.

“We know drought will come again which is why we’re acting now,” Mr Anderson said.

“This rule change means coastal landholders can capture water in farm dams during wet times, to get them through dry spells when water is scarce.

“We’re listening to the community and delivering water security where it’s needed most, but we must get the balance right.”

For more information on coastal harvestable rights, eligibility and requirements, visit: https://water.dpie.nsw. gov.au/licensing-andtrade/basic-landholderrights/harvestable-rights/ coastal-drainingcatchments/

More security for coastal farmers

Grants supporting biodiversity after floods

Flood-affected landholders who hold private land conservation agreements with the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust (BCT) are being encouraged to apply for flood recovery grants.

Minister for Environment James Griffin said the grants will help to reduce any further biodiversity loss after the initial impact of the flood disaster.

“The landholders who have conservation agreements with the BCT all protect critically important biodiversity,” Mr Griffin said.

“BCT grants of up to $15,000 per year are being offered to help landholders with initial protection or rehabilitation of their land so they are not further degraded, and to provide initial support to wildlife such as shelter.

“The overall impact of these floods on the environment is difficult to measure, but these grants are helping to reduce any further loss to biodiversity.”

Grant funding is offered through the BCT’s Conservation Partnership Program on an ongoing basis, and the BCT is available to support immediate conservation needs resulting from natural disasters.

Activities eligible for funding include fence and erosion repair, track maintenance and native revegetation.

Once landholders have had time to assess restoration needs, the grants can also help with weed and pest infestations to give native biodiversity the chance to recover.

The BCT provided financial support to landholders affected by the 2019-20 bush fires through a similar grant offering.

During that time, 290 of the 2,000 properties in the BCT private land conservation network were affected by bush fires.

The BCT provided more than $500,000 in grant funding to these landholders.

For more information and to apply for grant funding, visit: www. bct.nsw.gov.au/cards/ apply-conservationpartners-grant.

Roundtable puts lumpy skin disease on agenda

Minister for Agriculture Dugald Saunders has convened an industry taskforce on Lumpy Skin Disease at a roundtable meeting with key cattle industry representatives and stakeholders last week.

Mr Saunders updated stakeholders on the NSW Government’s work in preparing for a possible outbreak of Lumpy Skin Disease, and discussed industry readiness against the highly infectious viral disease, which affects all breeds of cattle and water buffalo.

“Right now, Australia is free of Lumpy Skin detections in Indonesia and Singapore and the recent spread of Japanese Encephalitis Virus from South East Asia into northern and then southern Australia has put the country on high alert for potential incursions on our doorstep,” Mr Saunders said.

“With the spread of Lumpy Skin Disease in Indonesia, we have lost our only geographic buffer against this destructive disease and now need to focus our efforts on prevention and eradication.

“The NSW Government, through NSW Department of Primary Industries and in partnership with other jurisdictions, is implementing an action plan for Lumpy Skin Disease preparedness.

“Industry preparedness and coordination is a critical element in mitigating the risk and minimising the potential impacts of Lumpy Skin Disease on producers and consumers.”

Mr Saunders said he had asked the NSW Department of Primary Industries to investigate the development of a vaccine using mRNA technology, which offers over traditional methods.

“If Lumpy Skin Disease reaches Australia, there consequences for beef, water buffalo and dairy cattle industries, with substantial trade impacts if we don’t act immediately,” Mr Saunders said.

“That’s why the development of an mRNA vaccine instead of a traditional vaccine will be incredibly effective; it is cheaper, faster and carries less risk to market access.”

The estimated daily cost to the NSW cattle industry would be $6 million if an incursion of Lumpy Skin Disease were to occur.