WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/AG/N/AUS/38
26 November 2001
(01-6001)
Committee on Agriculture Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
The attached notifications concerning new or modified domestic support measures exempt
from reduction ( Table DS:2 ) were received from the delegation of Australia on 21 November 2001.G/AG/N/AUS/38
Page 2
Table DS:2
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: Australia
Notification under Article 18:3 of the Agreement:
New or modified domestic support me asures exempt from reduction
(1) Full title of measure: Riverland Rural Partnership Program
(2) Domestic legislation: Rural Adjustment Act 1992
(3) Detailed description of measure with reference to criteria:  
The objective of the Program is to facilitate rural adjustment, which contributes to the long-
term viability of farm business enterprises through encouraging the preparation of business
plans and increased farm productivity and redevelopment. The Program also facilitatesprimary producers accessing courses and/or programs to improve their technical and
managerial skills and supports the development of export markets for the Riverland regional
produce.
Assistance is available to all primary producers who have operated a farm business enterprise
within the Riverland region in South Australia prior to the commencement of the Program.Application for assistance must also include a completed farm business plan.
The program is exempt from the reduction commitment consistent with Annex 2 paragraph 13
- payments under regional assistance programs.
(4) Cost of measure:   $2.50 million
(5) Date of entry into effect:  16 September 1998
(6) Period of application: 3 years
(7) Products to principally benefit (if any individual product(s) ):
All primary producers are eligible for assistance, the dominant industries in the region are
wine grapes, citrus and other horticultural crops.G/AG/N/AUS/38
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Table DS:2
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: Australia
Notification under Article 18:3 of the Agreement:
New or modified domestic support me asures exempt from reduction
(1) Full title of measure: Exceptional Circumstances Relief Payment (ECRP)
(2) Domestic legislation: Farm Household Support Amendment Act 1997
(3) Detailed description of measure with reference to criteria:
Exceptional Circumstances Relief Payments (ECRP) is only available following a declaration
of "exceptional circumstances" (EC) such as severe droughts by the CommonwealthGovernment.  The nature of the assessment process imposes rigorous tests to determine that
the impact of the event on production is rare, severe and prolonged.  ECRP assists only those
farmers in a declared exceptional circumstances area who need help meeting living expenses
for the farm family as a result of the rare and severe event impacting on their income.  The
ECRP is available to eligible producers during the 12 months an area is EC declared, and for
a further 12-month recovery period after the declaration is revoked.  Eligible farmers can
therefore have access to the ECRP for up to 24 months.
To be eligible for assistance farmers need to obtain a certificate demonstrating they are within
a declared EC area and they must meet a strict income and assets test.
The program is exempt from the reduction commitment consistent with Annex 2 criteria 8 -
payments for relief from natural disasters.
(4) Cost of measure:  Varies depending on the number of EC declarations at any one time.  An
average of $64.4 million per year 1994/95 – 2000/2001
(5) Date of entry into effect:  1 December 1997
(6) Period of application: Ongoing
(7) Products to principally benefit (if any individual product(s) ):  Measure is not product-
specific.G/AG/N/AUS/38
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Table DS:2
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: Australia
Notification under Article 18:3 of the Agreement:
New or modified domestic support me asures exempt from reduction
(1) Full title of measure: Emergency Management of Animal Disease Incursions
(2) Domestic legislation: nil
(3) Detailed description of measure with reference to criteria:
Under the Commonwealth–States Cost-Sharing Agreement for the eradication of certain
exotic animal diseases, the Commonwealth contributes 50 % of the eradication and associated
control costs and the States/Territories contribute the remaining 50% on a  pro rata  basis.
The Agreement was invoked to cover the costs of eradication of outbreaks of virulent
Newcastle disease in poultry.  Eligible costs include the costs of animal depopulation,
disinfection, compensation for stock and property destroyed and disease surveillance.
This program is exempt from the reduction commitment consistent with paragraph 8 – natural
disaster relief – of Annex 2 of the Agreement on Agriculture.
(4) Cost of measure:   Expected to be $28.88 million.
(5) Date of entry into effect:  Following the first outbreak of virulent Newcastle disease in
September 1998.
(6) Period of application: The Agreement is invoked to cover outbreaks of virulent Newcastle
disease as the need arises.
(7) Products to principally benefit (if any individual product(s) ):  Chicken meat and egg
industries.G/AG/N/AUS/38
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Table DS:2
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: Australia
Notification under Article 18:3 of the Agreement:
New or modified domestic support me asures exempt from reduction
(1) Full title of measure: Queensland Tobacco Adjustment Package
(2) Domestic legislation: N/A
(3) Detailed description of measure with reference to criteria:
Queensland Government assistance to eligible tobacco growers who are experiencing
financial difficulty due to circumstances beyond their control to exit the industry.  Paymentsare based on growers' full quota entitlements.
The program is exempt from the reduction commitment consistent with Annex 2 paragraph 9
– structural adjustment assistance provided  through producer retirement programs.
(4) Cost of measure:  $30 million
(5) Date of entry into effect:  1997-98
(6) Period of application: 5 years
(7) Products to principally benefit (if any individual product(s) ):  Tobacco industryG/AG/N/AUS/38
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Table DS:2
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: Australia
Notification under Article 18:3 of the Agreement:
New or modified domestic support me asures exempt from reduction
(1) Full title of measure: Rural Adjustment Scheme Exceptional Circumstances Provisions
(2) Domestic legislation: Rural Adjustment Act 1992
(3) Detailed description of measure with reference to criteria:
Rural Adjustment Scheme Exceptional Circumstances Provisions (RAS EC) is only available
following a declaration of "exceptional circumstances" (EC) such as severe drought by theCommonwealth Government.  The nature of the assessment process imposes rigorous tests to
determine that the impact of the event on production is rare, severe and prolonged.  RAS EC
provides business support to assist farm businesses that are experiencing financial difficulties
due to a rare and severe event, but are considered viable in the long-term.  Business support is
provided in the form of an interest rate subs idy up to 50%.  Support is available for up to 24
months: the initial 12 months while an area remains EC declared and for an additional 12-
month recovery period.
Receipt of an interest rate subsidy is not automatic upon EC declaration of an area.  The
period for which a farmer can receive the subsidy and the level of support they are entitled to
receive is determined on an individual basis.  The applicant's farm enterprise must be in
financial difficulty due to the EC event, it must have prospects of long-term profitability andsustainability and an asset test must be met.
The program is exempt from the reduction commitment consistent with Annex 2 criteria 8 -
payments for relief from natural disasters.
(4) Cost of measure:  Varies depending on the number of EC declarations at any one time. An
average $33.3 million per year 1992/93 – 2000/01
(5) Date of entry into effect:   1 January 1993
(6) Period of application: Ongoing
(7) Products to principally benefit (if any individual product(s) ):  Measure is not product-
specific.G/AG/N/AUS/38
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Table DS:2
DOMESTIC SUPPORT: Australia
Notification under Article 18:3 of the Agreement:
New or modified domestic support me asures exempt from reduction
(1) Full title of measure: Pork Producer Exit Program
(2) Domestic legislation: nil
(3) Detailed description of measure with reference to criteria:
The Pork Producer Exit Program specifically assists pork producers who are in financial
difficulty, are unable to borrow and who have made the decision to exit the industry, to do sowith dignity, and without exhausting all their family assets.
A maximum grant of $45,000 is available to producers with net assets of $90,000 or less.
Where the net asset value is in excess of $90,000 grants are reduced by $2 for every $5 up to
a maximum net asset value of $202,500, when the grant is completely phased out. Up to$3,000 is available per applicant to assist with professional advice to assess future options.
Eligibility for the exit payment includes a minimum of two years in pork production prior to
December 1998, inability to obtain bank finance, and professional advice obtained.
The program is exempt from the reduction commitment consistent with Annex 2 paragraph 9-
structural adjustment assistance provided through producer retirement programs.
(4) Cost of measure:   $3.4 million
(5) Date of entry into effect:   1 July 1999
(6) Period of application: 12 months
(7) Products to principally benefit (if any individual product(s) ):  Pork industry
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