Interpretation of farm electricity rules
Reynolds says the regulation itself has not changed, but its interpretation has, affecting young farmers taking over farms. Spring reiterates the eligibility criteria; Leonard objects that regulations are imposing hardship.
Would the Minister agree that there has been no change in the regulation but that there has been a major change in the interpretation of that regulation? I am surprised that the Minister has not the figures with him, but he will see quite clearly what the change in interpretation has meant. If an old farmer is handing over his farm to a young farmer he does qualify and has done so under the interpretation adopted in the past.
Comment on this
I have been at pains to point out that the two main eligibility requirements are that the beneficiary must be principally dependent on agriculture for his or her income and that the provision of supply to that farm would aid the development of agriculture in the western region. Grant assistance applies only to farms which do not have an existing electricity supply.
