Tasmanian Forests Intergovernmental Agreement - Contractors Voluntary Exit Grants Program

This program was funded for the 2011–2012 financial year and has now closed. Details of the program are set out below.

Application forms must have been received by the Program Secretariat by 5pm (Australian Eastern Daylight Time) Thursday 24 November 2011.

The Advisory Panel for the Tasmanian Forests Intergovernmental Agreement Contractors Voluntary Exit Grants Program (IGACEP) met on 19-20 December 2011 to consider 98 applications for the program. A diverse range of applications was received for the program requiring the panel to ensure all applications are dealt with fairly.

In order to complete its assessment of applications the panel has requested further information and verification of information before it can finalise its recommendations on the offer of grants under the program. Almost 75 per cent of applications were requested to provide further information or verification of information submitted and this affected the panel being able to finalise its consideration of applications. The advisory panel sought independent financial assessment of applications.

The IGACEP panel convened on 1 and 2 February 2012 to consider the results of financial analysis and develop recommendations on grant offers. The Advisory Panel reconvened on Tuesday 7 February 2012 to finalise recommendations for successful grant applications. A report to the delegate outlining the panel's recommendations has been finalised. The delegate made a decision that 61 applicants will be offered voluntary exit grants with a combined total of $44,019,622.76. All eligible applicants were made grant offers.

Officers from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry called applicants to notify them of the outcome. All applicants, including those applicants who did not meet eligibility requirements were notified in writing.

The department will provide updates on this website about the program. Please check the program webpage periodically for updates. You may have to refresh your browser to see the latest content.

Under the IGACEP, $45 million has been allocated for grants and delivery costs to provide for voluntary exits from public Tasmanian forest operations for haulage, harvest and silvicultural contractors. This funding will be provided in the 2011–2012 financial year.

The program is separate to the Tasmanian Forest Contractors Exit Assistance Program run by the Australian Government in the 2010–2011 financial year under which 29 businesses accepted exit assistance.

The IGACEP is a competitive grants program and suitability will be determined by ranking applicants according to merit criteria outlined in the Program guidelines.

The program guidelines and application form were amended on Friday 28 October 2011 to clarify matters relating to criterion 3 for harvest and haulage contractors. The updated program guidelines and application form can be found here.

Program guidelines

These guidelines provide details on the program, which is to be administered by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

Application forms

Completed application forms must have been received by the Program Secretariat by 5pm (Australian Eastern Daylight Time) Thursday 24 November 2011.

Copies sent by email, or by fax must have hard copies follow in the mail.

Funding Deed

Applicants awarded funding are required to sign a Funding Deed. The Funding Deed contains the terms and conditions of funding. Each grantee is required to nominate all individuals who are directors, owners or partners of the business. The nominated individual(s) are required to sign the funding deed and the deed of undertaking.

Deed of Undertaking

The nominated individual(s) will be required to sign a Deed of Undertaking under which they pledge to not re–enter the forest industry nationally for 10 years from the date of receiving the first milestone funding payment under the Funding Deed.

Exit Assistance Payment Structure

Voluntary exit assistance grants will be made in two payments before 30 June 2012. The first payment will be 75 per cent of the total approved amount and will be made on the execution of the Funding Deed and the execution of a Deed of Undertaking. The second payment of 25 per cent will be paid before 30 June 2012 on provision of an exit strategy for ongoing contracts or ongoing arrangements, proof of payment of all employees' entitlements and demonstration that the business's forestry machinery will not be used by the grant recipient in the forest industry nationally for 10 years except to the extent of existing contractual arrangements in the mainland sector, the Tasmanian private native forest sector or the Tasmanian plantation sector and demonstration that the business's forestry machinery is not being and will not be hired out or leased out in the forest industry nationally for 10 years.

Milestone 2 Deed Poll and Annexures

Applicants must meet all program requirements before 31 May 2012, to receive the payments.

Note, where the successful applicants had an active obligation under the Tasmanian Community Forest Agreement Industry Development Program (TCFA IDP) they received a modified letter outlining their requirements under that program and how it relates to IGACEP requirements.

Review Process

A request for a review should be submitted in writing within three months from the date the department advises the applicant of the decision. All reviews will be undertaken as promptly as possible and will not exceed a 30 working day timeframe, from assignment of review officer.

Assessment Plan

The Grant Application Assessment Plan sets out the process and methodology as to how applications for funding through the program will be assessed.

Compliance with grant conditions

Funding under the program is conditional on the grant recipient adhering to the terms of the Funding Deed and the nominated individuals adhering to the terms of the Deed Poll of Undertaking for a period of 10 years.

If conditions are breached the Commonwealth can seek, under the terms of the Funding Deed, the recovery of the grant money from the grant recipient and nominated individuals at any point during the period of obligation or pertaining to the period of obligation (10 years).

The Commonwealth can also seek an injunction against activities that breach conditions of the grant.

Frequently asked questions

Successful grantees

Successful grantees will be published on the department's website, within the time period specified by the Government Grant Guidelines.

Media releases

Documents released under the Freedom of Information Act 1982

The department received a request under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act)

(FOI 2012/13-11) seeking a copy of documents about Aprin Pty Ltd’s application and assessment for an exit grant under the Tasmanian Intergovernmental Agreement Contractors Voluntary Exit Grants Program (IGACEP).

The documents released under the FOI Act are:

Contact us

All correspondence concerning the Tasmanian Forests Intergovernmental Agreement Contractors Voluntary Exit Grants Program (IGACEP) must come through the Secretariat.

The Program Secretariat can be contacted for further information by

Post:

Program Secretariat
Tasmanian Forests Intergovernmental Agreement Contractors Voluntary Exit Grants Program
Forestry Branch
Climate Change Division
Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
GPO Box 858
Canberra ACT 2601

Phone:

+61 2 6272 3972 during business hours.

Fax:

+61 2 6272 4367

Email the Program Secretariat

The IGACEP is administered by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

Employees of contractors

Employees are not eligible for assistance under this program. Affected employees seeking more information about the services and payments that may be available to them can call the Tasmanian Forest Support Information Line on 1800 648 075.

Last reviewed:
03 Apr 2013
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