Drought, disaster and rural support

Farmers and rural communities face many risks to their business. These include droughts, natural disasters, pests and diseases, and other market disruptions.

There are programs and services to help you prepare for, manage and recover from these events.

Current disasters

Help is available for people affected by current natural disasters in Australia.

You may be able to access natural disaster support from your Australian, state or territory government. Visit Disaster Assist for more information. Services Australia has lump sum payments and ongoing, short-term allowances to help when you're directly affected by a declared disaster.

Check if you’re eligible for Australian Government rural support services listed on this page, including Farm Household Allowance.

Some of our customers may be in affected areas. If you’re having trouble paying debts or levy amounts you owe us, please get in touch. You can email ARhelpdesk@aff.gov.au or call 1800 647 531 to talk to us about a payment arrangement for overdue debt. We suspend levy compliance activities in affected areas. This includes any automated correspondence to levy agents. See more on support for payment of debt during a natural disaster.

Visit the National Emergency Management Agency to learn more about the Australian Government’s response.

Rural support

Help in hard times

• Farm Household Allowance

  Check if you’re eligible for up to 4 years of support. For farming families experiencing financial hardship.

• Rural Financial Counsellors

  Get free, independent financial counselling. For eligible primary producers and small businesses experiencing or at risk of hardship. Call 1300 771 741.

• Concessional loans

  Apply for a low-cost loan from the Regional Investment Corporation. For an eligible farmer or farm-related small business in financial need.

• Social support and wellbeing 

  Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or find other social support.

• ATO support in difficult times

  Check if you can get more time to lodge and pay tax.

• Tax concessions

  Access tax concessions. These include spreading or deferring profits from the forced disposal or death of livestock.

Help to prepare and grow

You don’t need to be in hardship to be eligible.

• Farm Management Deposit Scheme

  Set aside income in good years that you can draw on when you need it.

• Concessional loans

  Apply for a low-cost loan from the Regional Investment Corporation. For an eligible farm business.

• Tax deductions

  For fencing, dams, pumps, silos, bins, landcare operations and carbon sink forests.

• Income tax averaging

  Even out your income and tax payable to allow for fluctuations.

Fact sheets

Drought

Our Future Drought Fund helps farmers and rural communities prepare for drought. This is along with other rural support listed earlier on this web page.

Drought support in your state or territory

• New South Wales
• Victoria
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Western Australia
• Tasmania
• Northern Territory
• Australian Capital Territory

Everyone has a role to play in drought

The sooner you seek support, the easier it will be to stay or get back on track.

Living with drought – who can help and how

Living with drought – how your accountant can help

Market disruptions

Find up-to-date advice on other risks or disruptions at outbreak.gov.au.

Case studies

• Future Drought Fund case studies of drought resilience
• NSW farming families’ use of Farm Business Resilience Planning
• VIC farmer’s use of Farm Household Allowance
• Tasmanian farmer’s use of Regional Investment Corporation loan
• WA farmer case studies in regenerative agriculture
• QLD grazier case studies of climate adaptation

You don’t have to go it alone

Do you want to know more about:

• diversifying your production
• managing price and input risks
• farm exit and succession plans
• structuring your business in a tax effective way
• accessing rebates and concessions
• expanding your off-farm income
• maintaining soil moisture and ground cover
• new farm practices and technologies
• other financial, social and personal support?

While you decide what is best for your business, there are people you can talk to about your options. They include:

• farm industry groups
• banks, accountants and agronomists
• federal, state and local governments
• charities and other non-government organisations.

Stay informed

Visit our media centre for the latest updates on drought, disaster and rural support.