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Frequently asked questions

Either the farmer or the mortgagee can initiate mediation by:

• the mortgagee serving an Enforcement Action Notice along with a copy of the mediation information package to the farmer or
• the farmer giving a Request for Mediation Notice to the mortgagee whether or not they are in default. This request does not necessarily need to be in the approved form.

The parties to mediation are the mortgagee, the farmer and the mediator. Other participants are advisors, who may be your accountant, solicitor, your local Rural Financial Counsellor or some other appropriately qualified person.

The farmer is responsible for nominating three (3) mediators in order of preference from the Register of Mediators.

The scheme guidelines require that all COVID loans with an approved value of more than $100,000 needed to be secured by a General Security Agreement on the PPSR.

In order to give you the best chance of success, QRIDA needs to understand the historical performance of your business, your current position and your plan moving forward. Without this information, QRIDA would be unable to determine the level of assistance you need and your prospects of returning to a viable business with the assistance provided. 

Yes. To be eligible for the rebate, all vessel tracking units must be registered on FishNet SECURE.

FishNet SECURE can be accessed via the following link: https://fishnet.fisheries.qld.gov.au/Content/Public/Secure.aspx 

Note: You are required to register your vessel tracking unit to the associated licence and boat mark (and if on a tender, the tender number) on FishNet SECURE. Registering your vessel tracking unit on FishNet SECURE will not activate the unit with your airtime provider (e.g. CLS Oceania, Pivotel or Pole Star).

Yes. The independent consultant may need to clarify information around the nature and terms of the businesses term debt to establish a more accurate picture of the enterprise for the report.

Primary producer means:

• a sole trader who -
  • spends the majority of their labour on a primary production enterprise; and
  • either –
    1. derives the majority of their income from the primary production enterprise; or
    2. in the opinion of QRIDA, based on the demonstrated production potential of the primary production enterprise, will, within a reasonable time, derive the majority of their incomes from the primary production enterprise
• in relation to a partnership, company or trust that carries on a primary production enterprise for which the partners, shareholders or beneficiaries –
  • spend the majority of their labour on a primary production enterprise; and
  • either –
    1. derive the majority of their income from the primary production enterprise; or
    2. in the opinion of QRIDA, based on the demonstrated production potential of the primary production enterprise, will, within a reasonable time, derive the majority of their incomes from the primary production enterprise.

This definition is specific to the Scheme Guidelines and is not influenced by external definitions of a primary producer, such as that used by the Australian Taxation Office.

During the course of assessment, QRIDA may contact an applicant for further information to establish eligibility under the Scheme definition of a primary producer. 

For more information on how QRIDA determines the primary production potential under this scheme, please view QRIDA's In Potential Applicants fact sheet. 

Applicants who operate more than one primary production enterprise, for example under a single ABN at separate locations, may apply for assistance for each eligible separate business up to the maximum amount of assistance available for the relevant defined disaster area and determined by the establishment notice.

When determining an eligible separate business, QRIDA may consider (but is not limited to):

• the staffing arrangements of the separate property
• whether the property has its own plant equipment or stock
• the accounting arrangements of the separate property
• whether the separate property operates under its own trading name
• the commercial scale, viability and autonomy of each property.

QRIDA will consider each application on a case by case basis taking into account the particular circumstances.

A certificate of insurance and details of the claim are required to apply for this grant given the grant cannot cover repairs that will be covered by insurance. However, insurance excesses and items that are not covered by insurance may be eligible. 

You may be eligible to apply for more than one grant if you were directly affected by both events. Please contact QRIDA 1800 623 946 or email contact_us@qrida.qld.gov.au

Applicants are able to apply for assistance under the scheme in only one of the following capacities:

1. Primary producer; or
2. Small business owner; or
3. Non-profit organisation.

You may be able to apply for certain eligible clean-up, reinstatement or relocation costs for your business. Please contact QRIDA for further information and to discuss your individual circumstances.

No, if an applicant is registered for GST, the assistance will be calculated based on eligible costs excluding GST.

Insurance minimums have been adjusted to accommodate small business/solo practitioners as the Approved Adviser program intended. Public liability ($10 million) and professional indemnity insurance ($2 million) must be held by a relevant professional organisation. 

You are able to use relatives to repair your damage as long as transactions are retained at arm’s length and conducted in the same way as with any other contractor. Any contractors used must have an ABN and provide a tax invoice and official receipt for work completed. QRIDA may request additional information in these circumstances to confirm the validity of the claim.

You may pay a deposit towards the purchase of materials or engaging a contractor up to 90 days prior to submitting an application for assistance. However, to be eligible you cannot have commenced works on an eligible project before the approval of assistance.   

Projects approved for drought ready measures should commence within 90 days and should be completed, with approved funding drawn within six months from entering into a loan agreement.

Please allow up to 30 days from when  QRIDA receives your complete application for a decision to be notified. 

You can apply for both grants, however, you can only claim for the eligible items/invoices once.

Yes, you are eligible for a rebate for this grant if the purchasing and distributing emergency fodder for livestock costs occurring between 1 March – 14 April 2023 and removing and disposing livestock that died because of, or in connection with, the eligible disaster occurring between 1 March to 1 August 2023.

This assistance is not eligible for those affected that do not wish to re-establish the primary production enterprise. To be eligible for this grant you must intent to re-establish the primary production enterprise in the define disaster area. Please see the eligibility criteria for more information. 

If you would like to discuss an application or apply for a review of a decision email Approvedadvisers@des.qld.gov.au.

To apply for a rebate under the program complete and submit your application form and supporting information via the QRIDA online portal.