Rebates to improve digital connectivity for farmers

I am a Primary Producer, can I submit an application to claim the rebate?

No. Only selected eligible Equipment Suppliers listed at Appendix A of the grant opportunity guidelines can submit an application. Primary producers will be invited to provide a declaration as a part of the application process.

I am a Primary Producer and I purchased equipment from an eligible Equipment Supplier last month. Can I still receive a 50% discount for the equipment?

No. To be eligible for the rebate program, Primary Producers need to have their eligibility assessed before they enter equipment sale with the eligible Equipment Supplier. The eligible Equipment Supplier submits an application for the rebate based on the anticipated sale with the Primary Producer on the total equipment item costs.

I am an eligible Equipment Supplier and will supply equipment to multiple Primary Producers. Can I submit one application for all?

No. You must submit a separate application for each Primary Producer that has a different ABN.

You can bundle equipment supplies under different connectivity solutions for one Primary Producer ABN.

How much can an eligible Equipment Supplier claim for rebate?

The eligible Equipment Supplier (the applicant) can claim a rebate on equipment item sales with an eligible Primary Producer to the value of between $3,000 and $30,000 per eligible Primary Producer ABN.

Can the eligible Equipment Supplier pass on the rebate to the Primary Producer after the claim has been paid?

No. For eligible Equipment Suppliers to claim the rebate for the costs of equipment listed, they must show evidence of purchase and that the Primary Producer has paid their share of the equipment cost.

How will eligible Equipment Suppliers know when a Primary Producer’s ABN has reached the $30,000 maximum amount claimable for rebate?

The eligible Equipment Supplier should confirm this with the Primary Producer prior to starting an application. Eligibility criteria for Primary Producers can be found at Appendix C of the grant opportunity guidelines.

The Department will also assess the eligibility of the Primary Producer.  If the maximum rebate has been claimed, the application outcome will be notified as 'Ineligible'.

Note the rebate amount is GST exclusive. 

How do I calculate the rebate?

The rebate can be up to 50% of the cost of eligible equipment, including installation and training, of between $3,000 and $30,000 (GST exclusive). The rebate can include contingency of up to 20 per cent above the listed eligible equipment price list provided at the time the supplier had been approved as an eligible Equipment Supplier. This is to account for changes in costs, including price of equipment, installation and transportation, if required.

This is demonstrated in the following example:

Eligible Equipment valued at $16,000 is supplied by an eligible Equipment Supplier. Of that:

• the Primary Producer pays 50%, or $8,000
• the eligible Equipment Supplier claims a rebate of 50%, or $8,000.

Can an eligible Primary Producer purchase equipment items from multiple Equipment Suppliers?

Yes. An eligible Primary Producer ABN can purchase separate equipment items from multiple eligible Equipment Suppliers up to the maximum rebate of $30,000.

I am a Primary Producer, how do I fill out my electronic declaration for the application?

Primary producers will receive an email inviting them to the application. Click on the link in the email and it will take you to the declaration part of the application form. Review and complete the details as per the instructions and then click save and close.

If the Primary Producer is unable to complete the declaration online, then a hard copy of the declaration can be completed and emailed to OFCP@industry.gov.au. The Primary Producer declaration template is available under Key Documents.

I am an eligible Equipment Supplier, what evidence do I need to support my claim for the rebate?

You must submit the following to support your claim for the rebate:

• a description of the connectivity solution and associated eligible equipment that you have provided through the sale, and as outlined in the application outcome letter (refer to Appendix B for the list of eligible connectivity solutions and equipment)
• proof of purchase including copies of paid tax invoice(s), receipts or equivalent confirming the sale/purchase prices of the eligible equipment item/s, including costs for subscriptions, installation, training and delivery.
• evidence that the eligible Primary Producer has paid their share of the equipment.

Invoices and purchase orders are not acceptable evidence of proof of payment. Failure to submit your claim for the rebate within 60 days of your eligible application notice may require you to reapply for the program.

How do we assess your application?

We assess your application against the eligibility criteria outlined in the grant opportunity guidelines.

The Program Delegate decides which applications to approve based on the eligibility criteria.  The Program Delegate’s decision is final. We will not review decisions about your application.

How does the rebate application work between the eligible Equipment Supplier and the Primary Producer?

The eligible Equipment Supplier and the Primary Producer are both required to be part of the application process. The eligible Equipment Supplier is the applicant for the program and will submit the application. The Primary Producer will be invited to complete a declaration within the application.

How will I know my application was successful?

The eligible Equipment Supplier is notified by email that their application is successful. The eligible Equipment Supplier then has 60 days to finalise sale and lodge the claim for rebate evidence via the online portal.

I am an eligible Primary Producer and have purchased equipment from an eligible Equipment Supplier, but I have not received the goods. What do I do?

Primary Producers should contact the eligible Equipment Supplier in the first instance to check status of equipment order. Eligible Equipment Suppliers are expected to provide equipment to Primary Producers within 60 days of sale. Any anticipated or unforeseen delays impacting equipment supply due to stock availability, freight delays or unseasonal weather should be communicated and resolved as soon as possible between the eligible Equipment Supplier and Primary Producer.

Equipment purchases are protected under Australian Consumer Protection Laws. Refer to ACCC website. https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/buying-products-and-services

If the Primary Producer is still not satisfied with the equipment sale outcome, they may progress their complaint in accordance with complaints process outlined at Section 12.3 Enquiries and feedback in the Guidelines.

Where there is evidence that an eligible Equipment Supplier is not delivering equipment items to Primary Producers in a reasonable and timely manner, the department may (at the Program Delegate’s discretion) remove the supplier from list of eligible equipment suppliers under the grant opportunity guidelines.