The role of the RBDC is to administer approved assistance schemes properly and fairly on behalf of the WA Government for the benefit of rural industry and regional communities. Approved schemes may provide financial assistance by way of loans, grants, or other financial incentives such as transactional subsidies.
The Act allows the RBDC to administer appropriate assistance schemes that are approved by both the Minister for Agriculture and Food and the Treasurer. The RBDC can also provide advice to the minister on a range of rural issues
Open schemes of assistance
The Farm Debt Mediation Scheme in Western Australia is available to assist farm and pastoral businesses and financial institutions resolve disputes about business financial arrangements. The Scheme provides an opportunity to address issues and disputes through a low cost and non-legal form of mediation and encourage a mutually acceptable agreement between the parties.
Closed schemes of assistance
Farm businesses impacted by the drought conditions in 2024 were able to apply for a loan of $25,000 to help cover the cost of stockfeed, water, transportation, and other infrastructure that supports drought resilience.
Applications closed on 30 November 2024.
The Farm Finance Concessional Loans Scheme (FFCLS) and Drought Concessional Loans Scheme (DCLS) were funded by the Australian Government and were administered by the RBDC on behalf of the Western Australian Government, for the Australian Government.
The Schemes closed for applications on 30 June 2017.
The Carbon Farming and Land Restoration Program aims to realise agriculture's potential to sequester carbon in the landscape and contribute to growing the WA carbon market.
ACCU Plus provides financial assistance for carbon farming projects that deliver Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) plus one or more of the program’s five priority co-benefits:
- Biodiversity and conservation
- Agricultural productivity
- Health
- Salinity mitigation
- Aboriginal economic and cultural outcomes
About the Rural Business Development Corporation
Board of directors
The RBDC is comprised of a board of five directors appointed by the Minister.
- Andrew Clark (Chair)
- Sue Middleton
- Ashley Herbert
- I-Lyn Loo
- Suzanne Woods
Annual reports
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Annual report 2024
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Annual report 2023
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Annual report 2022
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Annual report 2021
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Annual report 2020
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Annual report 2019
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Annual report 2018