Brisbane 17 September 2013. State provides $1.8 million in rent relief as drought tightens grip

The Newman Government has delivered more than $1.8 million in rent relief to ease the financial burden on primary producers struggling through the State’s worsening drought.

Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Andrew Cripps said today a rebate on rents paid by primary producers who lease State land delivered practical assistance to drought-affected landholders.

“As part of the government’s drought assistance package announced by the Premier on 30 May 2013, state land lessees are entitled to a rebate off their 2013-14 rent to ensure they don’t pay any more than last year,” Mr Cripps said.

“Landholders whose lease has been declared an Individually Droughted Property (IDP), or are located in a shire that has been partly or totally drought declared, may be eligible for the rebate.

“To date, the Department of Natural Resources and Mines has provided rent rebates worth $1,874,201 to 2,622 landholders on 54 IDPs or located in 20 drought-declared shires.”

Mr Cripps said his department was closely monitoring the drought situation and would extend rent rebates to lessees as new areas were drought-declared.

“If more properties become drought-declared, the department will issue rent adjustment notices to eligible landholders showing the amount of the rebate due,” he said.

“The Department will automatically issue a refund to landholders who have already paid their original invoice if the rebate amount is $50 or more and, on request, if the amount is less than $50.

“The rebate will not be affected if the relevant drought declaration is revoked prior to 1 July 2014 and will be valid for the full year regardless of whether the lease is invoiced on an annual or quarterly basis.”

Landholders who may be eligible for a rebate or require further information should contact their nearest DNRM office. Office contact details can be found on the DNRM website –  www.dnrm.qld.gov.au – or by calling the Queensland Government Call Centre on 13 QGOV (13 74 68).