Dairy payments processing nearly complete for Queensland's dairy farmers

The Dairy Adjustment Authority (DAA) has approved Dairy Structural Adjustment Program (DSAP) payments for over 95 per cent of Queensland's dairy farmers, totalling $176.1 million that will be paid in quarterly instalments over the next eight years.

Chairman of the DAA Mr Musgrave reported that as at 30 January 2001, the DAA had approved standard payment rights to 3,233 of the 3,417 eligible dairy farmers in Queensland.

"We are continuing to process the last of the claims and expect to advise the remaining dairy farmers of their entitlements very soon."

"Of the 3,233 dairy farmers who have received a Notice of Decision, the DAA has actually authorised the first payments to 2,633, totalling $16.5 million into Queensland dairy farmers' bank accounts over the last three months", Mr Musgrave said.

"We are now waiting for the other 600 dairy farmers to return their bank account details and other declaration forms, and for the statutory 28-day period to elapse. After this happens, we will then be able to authorise their first payments as well."

"Processing has continued steadily since the bulk of the earlier straightforward payments were made in November last year, and we are pleased that we have been able to meet our established timelines."

"Having set ourselves some very exacting standards, we have been able to move through the processing period with very few interruptions to get this result. All our efforts are now focussed on resolving the last remaining applications, which we should have completed very soon, Mr Musgrave concluded.

ENDS

Further information:

Ian Harvey
Telephone 03 9507 2315