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Saturday 20 October 2007

Finanicial Assistance

The Australian Government has announced further assistance for people and businesses facing additional costs and significant financial hardship, as a direct result of the Equine Influenza quarantine measures currently in place. Here are some links and more information.

Please note, for the grants being administered through Centrelink, we strongly advise that you call the EI Hotline 1800 234 002 and/or visit one of the specialised Centrelink info sessions that are currently on offer, click here for dates. The people at these sessions and on the hotline number have the up-to-date information about the EI crisis funds and will be able to serve you better.

Australian Government Support Services, click here for an outline of services available
Centrelink Fact Sheet, click here
Centrelink website, click here
Tax help available, click here


NSW EI SUPPORT
Commercial Horse Assistance Payment (CHAP)1800 859 611 Click here for more info and the application forms
http://www.nsw.equestrian.org.au/?Page=15507
A Commercial Horse Assistance Payment (CHAP) will be available to primary carers whose racing, harness or professional equestrian competition horses have been unable to undertake their normal activities, and could otherwise have generated an income, if not for the quarantine restrictions in place.

This payment will make sure horses receive adequate care, and remain fit and healthy during the current quarantine restrictions, so that all horse industries can make a swift and full recovery as soon as the standstill is lifted.

It is estimated that up to 10,000 horses in the ACT, NSW and QLD will be eligible for assistance, if as a result of quarantine restrictions, they are not able to engage in activities that could potentially earn an income.
CHAP will be administered by the EFA NSW for the sport and leisure horse (non-racing) industry.

Payments based on a daily rate will be paid to horse carers on a fortnightly basis.
Daily rates are as follows: Please see footnote
NSW Metropolitan Thoroughbreds $60
NSW Provincial/ ACT Thoroughbreds $55
NSW Country Thoroughbreds $50
NSW Metropolitan Harness $20
NSW Provincial/Country Harness $15
QLD Metropolitan (Bris, GC) Thoroughbreds $55
QLD Country Thoroughbreds $50
QLD/ACT Harness $20
Other commercial non-racing horses $20

Footnote re. CHAP Supplement This assistance is offered to provide for the WELFARE and on going maintenance of horses to ensure they remain fit and healthy and be ready to return to normal activity as soon as the standstill is lifted. It is offered as a SUBSIDY to owners and was never designed to cover the full costs of having a horse. It is assumed that the owner will still have to bear some of the costs during the time that a horse is unable to undertake its normal competitive programme.

Obviously a competition horse suffering from and recovering from EI will not be in full work, or any work at all, but will require supervision and maintenance and the figure of $20 PER DAY/PER HORSE (ie. $140 per week) is regarded as “fair” in those circumstances.

CHAP is not intended to reflect "Horse in Training" costs.
This assistance is to enable equestrians to maintain horses which would have been either, in competition, for sale or used for teaching purposes.
The amount given per day for the racing industry recognises that on some tracks horses can still race.

Equestrian horses cannot compete in the present circumstances.

You will find more information on EI Financial Assistance available at;
http://www.nsw.equestrian.org.au/site/equestrian/nsw/downloads/News%20Items/EI%20News/equine-influenza-support-services.pdf

http://www.nsw.equestrian.org.au/?Page=15359

Equine Influenza Business Assistance Grant - 1800 234 002...please note, you must ask for this particular assistance by this exact name and it is preferable to call the equine hotline number rather than visit centrelink to ensure you are given the correct information.

A business assistance grant of $5000 is available for businesses which:
derive the majority of their income from the commercial horse industry,
have occurred additional costs to implement the quarantine measure, and
have experienced a significant downturn in income.

The Equine Influenza Business Assistance Grant (EIBAG) will provide businesses with flexibility to identify their own financial priorities.
Application forms and further information on the Equine Influenza Business Assistance Grant will be available on the Centrelink website or by calling the Equine Influenza Hotline on 1800 234 002.

Equine Influenza Recreational Organisation Grants
The Victorian State Government has established a grants program to assist non-government, not-for-profit equine organisations that incur financial losses due to the voluntary cancellation of events in Victoria during the recent Equine Influenza outbreak. Eligible organisations can apply for grants to reduce the burden of losses resulting from the cancellation of events that were scheduled to be held during the period 1 September 2007 to 31 October 2007.
http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/nrenfa.nsf/LinkView/6333E7EEE559A577CA257370007BEB1F2FCC42C90CB016EECA25734F000AFF44

QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
The Queensland Government is providing an immediate $20 million assistance package including:
$10 million for a small business interest subsidy scheme (with payments up to $5000)
$5 million personal hardship scheme (one-off payments of up to $155 for eligible individuals and a maximum of $725 for families)
$5 million recovery package to assist Queensland horse industry retain skilled employees and get back on its feet
For further details about financial assistance:Telephone:13 25 23

QUEENSLAND COMMERCIAL HORSE
SMALL BUSINESS EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE SCHEME
Queensland small businesses that have been impacted by the Equine Influenza outbreak are able to apply for financial assistance from QRAA to meet operating and other essential costs.

Small businesses who derive the majority of their income from being part of the commercial horse industry and have experienced a significant downturn in income as a result of the Equine Influenza outbreak, can apply for this assistance. What assistance is available?

What assistance is available?Assistance under the Queensland Commercial Horse Small Business Emergency Assistance Scheme is in the form of a non-repayable interest subsidy up to $5,000 for the period 1 October 2007 to 31 March 2008 which will contribute towards interest payments on new or existing commercial loans.

http://www.qraa.qld.gov.au/productitem.jsp?product=654

QUEENSLAND RACING

The QRL CHAPS Guidelines provide full details of eligibility, payments and application requirements

http://www.queenslandracing.com.au/documents/pdf/EI/QRL_CHAPS_Guidelines.pdf

HARNESS RACING

http://www.harness.org.au/qld/CHAPS/Guidelines.pdf

RACING NSW

EQUINE INFLUENZA BUSINESS ASSISTANCE GRANT SCHEME
This scheme provides for the payment of one-off grants of up to $5,000 to businesses and self employed persons who derive the majority of their income from racing, are incurring additional costs because of the outbreak and are facing a significant downturn in income.This scheme covers such categories of businesses and persons as trainers, jockeys, farriers, horse transport companies, veterinarians, etc.We urge all eligible self-employed participants to make application for these grants.

Further CHAPS Payments Made to Trainers and Jockeys [28/09/2007]
As previously advised, Racing NSW has negotiated a compensation scheme for trainers with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry (DAFF) to provide funding to trainers according to the number of horses in a trainer's care and the number of days that a horse is unable to earn an income due to the shutdown of racing caused by the Equine Influenza outbreak.DAFF have agreed to pay this compensation for a maximum of 12 weeks for the period 25 August 2007 to 19 November 2007, or the date on which all restrictions on movement of horses in NSW are lifted, whichever is the earlier.

COMMERCIAL HORSE ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS SYSTEM
Details relating to this scheme are still under consideration and negotiations are continuing with the Federal Government with a meeting to be held in Canberra on Wednesday 12th September 2007. However the general thrust of the scheme is as follows:The scheme will be administered by Racing NSW and will be based on a per horse per day payment on a sliding scale ($50 - metropolitan: $45 - Provincial: $40 - Country) and will be paid in fortnightly installments to trainers with horses in work which would otherwise be active and earning an income if not for the EI outbreak.
Examples of the scheme are shown below:
  • A metropolitan trainer with 40 horses in work would receive $50 per horse per day, i.e. $2,000 per day or $28,000 per fortnight;
  • A provincial trainer with 25 horses in work would receive $45 per horse per day, i.e. $1,125 per day or $15,750 per fortnight;
  • A country trainer with 15 horses in work would receive $600 per day or $8,400 per fortnight.

The payments will be conditional upon trainers passing of an amount to be determined by Racing NSW to the owners of horses under their care. However it is stressed that a percentage will be retained by the trainer towards his/her costs. Further details of these arrangements will be provided following the completion of negotiations with the Federal Government.In addition to the above, an amount of $10 per horse per day will also be provided under the scheme to allow payments to other industry participants such as jockeys, freelance track riders, farriers, veterinarians, horse dentists, horse transport operators and other persons providing direct and specialized essential services to the industry.Jockeys in receipt of payments under this scheme are to ride track work on a daily basis or as required by trainers and are to attend weekly training courses arranged by Racing NSW, including courses covering OH&S, financial planning and media relations.

EQUINE WORKERS HARDSHIP WAGE SUPPLEMENT
This scheme will be administered by the Federal Government through Centrelink and will provide for the payment of fortnightly allowances to workers who have lost their jobs or most of their income and sole traders whose incomes have effectively ceased because of the EI outbreak.The payments under the scheme will be equivalent to the Government's Newstart Allowance ($424.30 per fortnight for singles) and will not be subject to the normal activity assets tests and other conditions that usually apply to persons applying for unemployment benefits.The payment will be made for up to 12 weeks from the date of declaration of the Equine Influenza outbreak in NSW & QLD - 25 August 2007. Backdating to the date of the original standstill orders will be available if applications are received within 8 weeks from the declaration date.This includes persons unable to attend their workplace because of restrictions imposed by EI quarantine arrangements.For further information and Application Forms please contact Centrelink on http://www.racingnsw.com.au/www.centrelink.gov.au or by calling the Centrelink Equine Influenza Hotline on 1800 234 002.

EQUINE INFLUENZA HARDSHIP GRANT SCHEMEIn addition to the above new schemes, participants are reminded that they may also be eligible to receive payments under the Equine Influenza Hardship Grants Scheme.This scheme was established under a $4 million grant from the Federal Government to provide emergency grants to individuals suffering financial difficulty as a result of the Equine Influenza outbreak. Grants of up to $1,500 are available for individuals in New South Wales and Queensland, whose livelihood is dependent on horses.Insofar as NSW is concerned, the Hardship Assistance Fund is being administered by Racing NSW who will assess applications in conjunction with Harness and Leisure horse groups. Applications may be made by participants who derive their major source of income from the Horse Industry, incorporating Thoroughbred Racing, Harness Racing and Leisure Horses, and are experiencing financial hardship as a result of the outbreak of EI in NSW.Further details regarding this scheme can be found on the Racing NSW website (http://www.racingnsw.com.au/) or by calling the Equine Influenza Hotline on 1800 670 051.Further details in respect of these schemes will be circulated when they become available.

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