Latest Information

To keep up to date with the latest information visit either the South Australian or Australian Government media releases websites. 

South Australian Government media releases
Australian Government media releases

Critical Dates for Drought Programs

Primary Producers and Small Businesses wishing to access a range of drought packages should ensure they are aware of the following critical dates. Please note lodgement dates vary slightly for primary producers, agricultural dependent small businesses and small businesses in rural towns.

The list below provides the dates by which applications for the current year of Interest Rate Subsidies must be submitted. If you have any questions please contact PIRSA on 1800 182 235. For more details and maps of the regions go to the EC page of PIRSA website.

Primary Producer lodgement dates
Small Businesses Dependent on Primary Production lodgement dates
Small Businesses in towns with population of less than 10,000 lodgement dates
Other Program close dates

Primary Producer lodgement dates

Region Current year IRS lodgement dates
Upper North District 30 Sept 08 (year 4)
Central North East 30 Jun 08 (year 6)
Central North East Annex 30 Jun 08 (year 4)
Central Eyre Peninsula 18 Jan 09 (year 2)
Western Eyre Peninsula 18 Jan 09 (year 2)
Upper South East 18 Jan 09 (year 2)
Murray Mallee 18 Jan 09 (year 2)
Lower Eyre Peninsula 28 Mar 08 (year 1)
Fleurieu Peninsula 17 Apr 08 (year 1)
River Murray Corridor 17 Apr 08 (year 1)
Yorke Peninsula 2 Jul 08 (year 1)
Clare Light & Barossa 2 Jul 08 (year 1)
Mid North 2 Jul 08 (year 1)
North West Rangelands 6 Aug 08 (year 1)
Kangaroo Island 16 Aug 08 (year 1)
Lower South East 24 Sep 08 (year 1)
Central/Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges 24 Sep 08 (year 1)


Small Businesses Dependent on Primary Production lodgement dates

Small Businesses that derive 70% or more of its normal business turnover from provision of goods and services from farming enterprises in EC declared areas and wish to access Interest Rate Subsidy support should ensure they are aware of critical dates in the Drought Programs.

Region Current year IRS lodgement dates
Upper North District 30 Sep 08 (year 2)
Central North East 30 Jun 08 (year 2)
Central North East Annex 30 Jun 08 (year 2)
Central Eyre Peninsula 18 Jan 09 (year 2)
Western Eyre Peninsula 18 Jan 09 (year 2)
Upper South East 18 Jan 09 (year 2)
Murray Mallee 18 Jan 09 (year 2)
Lower Eyre Peninsula 28 Mar 08 (year 1)
Fleurieu Peninsula 17 Apr 08 (year 1)
River Murray Corridor 17 Apr 08 (year 1)
Yorke Peninsula 2 Jul 08 (year 1)
Clare Light & Barossa 2 Jul 08 (year 1)
Mid North 2 Jul 08 (year 1)
North West Rangelands 6 Aug 08 (year 1)
Kangaroo Island 16 Aug 08 (year 1)
Lower South East 24 Sep 08 (year 1)
Central/Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges 24 Sep 08 (year 1)

Small businesses in towns with population of less than 10,000 lodgement dates

Small Businesses that operate in towns that are substantially reliant on farmer income, have less than 10,000 population and are located in EC declared areas and wish to access Interest Rate Subsidy support should ensure they are aware of critical dates in the Drought Programs.

Region Current year IRS lodgement dates
Upper North District 30 Sep 08 (year 2)
Central North East 30 Jun 08 (year 2)
Central North East Annex 30 Jun 08 (year 2)
Central Eyre Peninsula 24 Sep 08 (year 1)
Western Eyre Peninsula 24 Sep 08 (year 1)
Upper South East 24 Sep 08 (year 1)
Murray Mallee 24 Sep 08 (year 1)
Lower Eyre Peninsula 24 Sep 08 (year 1)
Fleurieu Peninsula 24 Sep 08 (year 1)
River Murray Corridor 24 Sep 08 (year 1)
Yorke Peninsula 24 Sep 08 (year 1)
Clare Light & Barossa 24 Sep 08 (year 1)
Mid North 24 Sep 08 (year 1)
North West Rangelands 24 Sep 08 (year 1)
Kangaroo Island 24 Sep 08 (year 1)
Lower South East 24 Sep 08 (year 1)
Central/Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges 24 Sep 08 (year 1)

Other Program close dates

Mortgage Stamp Duty Relief

Primary Producers should also be aware that the expiry date for Mortgage stamp duty relief has been extended to 30 June 2009. As of 1 July 2009 this stamp duty will be abolished completely.

Community Support Grants

The Community Support Grants have been extended to Friday 30 May 2008.

South Australian guide to drought related grants and assistance measures

A Grants and Assistance Measures document has been put together as a tool to assist farming communities, as well as regional organisations supporting those communities, in drought affected areas specifically Prima Facie and EC declared. The document compiles a current list of national, statewide, and locally available grants and other assistance measures those individuals and communities may be able to access. The document will continue to evolve as new information and grants are announced.

Small Businesses eligible for EC support

Small businesses can now apply for Exceptional Circumstances (EC) drought assistance. Small businesses with less than 100 FTE employees that derive at least 70 percent of their income directly from agriculture in EC declared areas are eligible for the same income and interest rate support offered to farmers under the EC programme. Assistance will be available until at least March 2008, and will be backdated to 7 November 2006, when the new measures were announced. Small businesses are encouraged to contact the Centrelink Drought Assistance Hotline 13 23 16 for more information about Small Business Income Support Payments. Application forms for interest rate subsidies are available from PIRSA Prudential and Rural Financial Services on 1800 182 235.

Rainfall update to Monday 19 May

The Bureau of Meterology  has reported falls in excess of 15 millimetres over many parts of the State, with falls in excess of 30 millimetres through the Mount Lofty Ranges and southern Flinders Ranges over the three days to 9am on Monday 19 May 2008.

Notable cropping areas to miss out on falls were eastern parts of the Lower Eyre Peninsula and Kangaroo Island while only moderate falls penetrated to the Riverland.

Click here for a larger version of the rainfall map

South Australian rainfall for 3 days to 9am May 19 2008