September 17, 2009
Legislation has been introduced to Federal Parliament that will provide grants of up to $10,000 to bushfire affected farmers to repair and restore fencing.
The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester said the amendments to the Income Tax Assessment Act (Cth) 1997 had been introduced into the House of Representatives this week to broaden the allowable uses of the charitable donations made to support bushfire victims.
“The amendments are backdated to extend cover from the first bushfire of the year and will include victims of the Black Saturday bushfires and victims from Boolarra impacted by the Delburn bushfire,” Mr Chester said.
“The generosity of Australians has been inspiring, with more $370 million in donations collected for bushfire victims.
“However, the committee which has been responsible for distributing the donations has been restricted by legislation that, in many cases, prevented community donations going to small businesses, including farmers – despite their enormous loss and the compelling case to assist them to rebuild.
“I have previously raised this matter with the Federal Government and welcome the amendments introduced this week to give the fund wider powers to help people and communities hit by the fires.
“The money can now be distributed where it is most needed, fairly, without being hindered by red-tape.”
The changes will allow the fund to provide:
• grants of up to $10,000 to affected primary producers to use for repair and restoration of farm activities, including in re-fencing properties;
• funds for a wide range of community benefit projects;
• long-term assistance to orphaned minors (under the age of 18 years) without the need for annual assessments;
• reimbursement to individuals or organisations for eligible charitable activities already undertaken;
• discretionary payments of up to $15,000 to assist households for the period in which they are in transitional housing where such households have previously received a charitable grant from the Fund to assist in the reconstruction of their primary residence;.
The legislation will also protect the charitable status of the Red Cross.
The changes provided for by this Bill will be one-off, representing the unprecedented and tragic circumstances of the Victorian Bushfires, and will not apply to other cases, where the current charitable taxation law will continue to apply in full.