Meeting general operating expenses can be difficult during drought conditions. QRAA may be able to provide you with the necessary financial assistance to cover these operating costs which may include:

• fodder
• freight
• fuel
• machinery repairs
• rates
• desilting farm dams

Can this loan be used in conjunction with other programs?

1. Exceptional Circumstances
   Producers within Exceptional Circumstance drought declared areas may be eligible to receive an interest subsidy on Drought Carry-on Loans. View further information about Exceptional Circumstances Support on the Exceptional Circumstances page.
2. Drought Relief Assistance Scheme
   As of the 6 December 2006, you are now able to apply for funding under the Drought Relief Assistance Scheme and Drought Carry-on Loans.
   This amendment was announced by the Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries on the 6 December 2006 Ministerial media release.

Interest Rates

To enable your interest payments to be consistent, QRAA can offer low interest rates over fixed terms of one, three or five years. Please view our current interest rates.

Interest only options may be available for up to two years depending upon your circumstances. Please discuss this option with us.

Loan Amount

The maximum loan amount for Drought Carry-on Loans is $100,000.

Shires Eligible for Drought Loans:

Certain areas of Queensland have been nominated by the Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries as suffering severe drought. Shires eligible for assistance are Dalby Regional Council, Goondiwindi Regional Council and Toowoomba Regional Council.

Repayment Terms

A maximum repayment term of up to seven years applies for this program.

Fees and Charges

As with all QRAA programs, no establishment, account keeping or early payout fees apply.

Terms and Conditions

Our programs are subject to terms and conditions that identify the required eligibility criteria for each loan. If you are interested in applying for a Drought Carry-on Loan, some of the key criteria you will need to meet include:

• Not having net landed assets exceeding $2 million at current valuations.
• Holding a property located in a shire nominated and accepted as being rainfall deficient (equivalent to a one in 20 year event over at least 12 months) by the Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries.
• Having taken reasonable precautions to minimise the effects of drought on your property.
• Demonstrating sound long term prospects of commercial viability under normal circumstances.
• Having disposed of all off farm assets and investments in excess of the limit described under the Newstart Allowance Assets Test for Homeowners-Partnered (combined) which is administered by Centrelink. Bonafide insurance bonds and superannuation are excluded from this Test.
• Being able to demonstrate an adverse financial impact on your business as a result of the drought.
• Under normal circumstances, contributing greater than 75% of your labour to the property either as an owner-operator, sharefarmer, lessee, or as part of a small family company, partnership or trust.
• Normally deriving your major source of income from the enterprise.

Applications for Drought Carry-on Loans are to be received by QRAA by 30 June 2010. For further information regarding the eligibility criteria for Drought Carry-on Loans, please contact us on Freecall 1800 623 946 or view the full terms and conditions for Drought Carry-on Loans:

Drought Carry-on Guidelines (33KB)
Drought Carry-on Guidelines (84KB)

Questions on Completing your Application

Should you have any queries with regards to completing the application form, please view the Drought Carry-on Loan Fact Sheet (110KB) or contact us on Freecall 1800 623 946.