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5.10.1 Overview of Retirement Assistance for Sugarcane Farmers Scheme (RASF)

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Last amended: 19 August 2009

What is RASF

RASF was part of the Federal Government's 2004 Sugar Industry Reform Program, announced by the Prime Minister on 29 April 2004. RASF was a scheme that intended to allow older sugarcane farmers to transfer ownership of the family sugarcane farm or farms, by way of gift to the younger generation, without affecting the retiring sugarcane farmer's eligibility for income support, or rate of income support.

Who can participate in RASF

Any sugarcane farmer, the partner or former partner of a sugarcane farmer, or the widow/widower of a sugarcane farmer who transfers a sugarcane farm property within the period that the scheme is in operation, by way of gift, to the younger generation, and then retires from sugarcane farming, may be eligible to participate in RASF. The person must reach retirement or pension age prior to 13 July 2007.    

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Period of operation of RASF

RASF commenced on 13 July 2004 and operated up to and including 12 July 2007.

Requirements applicable to sugarcane farm transfer

Certain requirements have to be met in order for participation in RASF to be considered for a particular sugarcane farm transfer.    

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Sugarcane farmer must be a qualifying sugarcane farmer

A person must be a qualifying sugarcane farmer, or the partner or former partner of a qualifying sugarcane farmer or the widow/widower of a qualifying sugarcane farmer to be eligible to divest a sugarcane farm under RASF.    

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Transfer of farm to actively involved eligible descendent

An eligible descendant must be actively involved with a sugarcane farm when the farm is transferred to them under RASF.    

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Backdating provisions

If a claim for service pension or income support supplement is lodged within 13 weeks of the date of transfer of the sugarcane farm(s), the sugarcane farmer's pension entitlements may under certain circumstances be backdated to the date of transfer.    

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Benefits of participation in RASF

Where a sugarcane farmer who transfers a sugarcane farm property to the younger generation is eligible to participate in RASF, the value of the sugarcane farm(s) transferred (up to a maximum of $500,000) is not assessed under the deprivation provisions. This may result in an increase in the rate of pension payable to the sugarcane farmer or a rate of pension payable where previously no income support pension was payable.    

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Need for professional advice

Sugarcane farmers who are contemplating a transfer of their sugarcane farm(s) and sugarcane farm assets to the younger generation in order to participate in RASF are strongly advised to seek professional advice in relation to succession planning and legal and taxation matters, as well as any impact on the transferee.

Pension bonus scheme

Sugarcane farmers who are members of the pension bonus scheme (PBS) may also participate in RASF. However, the transfer of the sugarcane farm is regarded as a disposed asset for the purposes of calculating the amount of bonus payable.    

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Eligibility criteria for participation in RASF

Section 5.10.2

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Requirements applicable to sugarcane farm transfer

Section 5.10.3

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Requirements applicable to sugarcane farmer, partner or former partner

Section 5.10.4

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Requirement for active involvement of eligible descendants

Section 5.10.5

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Valuation of sugarcane farm assets

Section 5.10.7

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Pension bonus scheme and RASF

Section 5.6.12

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A person's 'partner' is someone who is a member of a couple with that person.

A widow is a woman who was:

  • the partner of a person immediately before the person died; or
  • legally married to a man and living with him immediately before he died; or
  • legally married to a man and living separately and apart from him on a permanent basis, immediately before he died.

 

 

A widower is a man who was:

  • the partner of a person immediately before the person died: or
  • legally married to a woman and living with her immediately before she died; or
  • legally married to a woman and living separately and apart from her on a permanent basis immediately before she died.

 

 

According to subsection 5PAA(1) of the VEA, a sugarcane farm is a farm that is used predominantly for the purposes of a sugarcane farm enterprise .

 

 

Currently, the pension age for a veteran is 60 years of age (VEA 5QA).

The pension age for a non-veteran is determined by the table below:

Date of birth (both dates inclusive)

Age Pension age

1 July 1952 to 31 December 1953

65 years and 6 months

1 January 1954 to 30 June 1955

66 years

1 July 1955 to 31 December 1956

66 years and 6 months

On or after 1 January 1957

67 years

 

VEA 

Qualifying sugarcane farmer – 15 years continuous involvement

Subsection 5PAA(3) VEA

Qualifying sugarcane farmer – 20 years involvement

Subsection 5PAA(4) VEA

VEA  (go back)

A person is considered to be a qualifying sugarcane farmer if they have:

  • held an eligible interest in the farm for a continuous period of 15 years and the farm has for the last two years and since 29 April 2004 been a sugarcane farm, or
  • acquired an eligible interest in the sugarcane farm before 29 April 2004 and had an active involvement in the farm or the farming industry in Australia for any period or periods totalling at least 20 years.

During either period the person or their partner must have derived a significant part of their income and contributed a significant part of their labour to the development of a sugarcane farm for at least the last two years.

Refer to subsections 5PAA(3) and 5PAA(4) for the full definition.

 

 

According to subsection 5P(1) of the VEA, an eligible descendant in relation to a person means:

  • a child, step child or adopted child of the person or of a partner of the person, or
  • a descendant in direct line of a child described above, or
  • any other person who, in the opinion of the [glossary:Commission:DEF/Commission/Repatriation Commission], should be treated for the purposes of this definition as a person described in the above paragraph.

 

 

According to subsection 49Q(5) of the VEA, a person is deemed to have been actively involved with a sugarcane farm during a particular period if during that period the person:

  • has contributed a significant part of his or her labour to the development of the sugarcane farm; or
  • has undertaken educational studies or training in a field that, in the opinion of the Commision, is relevant to the development or management of the sugarcane farm enterprise.

 

 

A service pension is an income support payment broadly equivalent to the social security age and disability support pensions. It may be paid once a veteran or partner has reached the nominated age or is incapacitated for work.

ISS is an income support payment that may be paid to eligible war widows and widowers under the VEA and persons receiving wholly dependent partners' compensation under the MRCA, and who satisfy the means tests. It is an indexed rate, increased twice-yearly in March and September in line with changes to the cost of living and/or average wages. Income Support Supplement (ISS) legislation commenced on 20 March 1995. It is a payment created to replace the ceiling rate income support age, carer, wife and disability support pensions, paid to war widows/widowers by Centrelink.

 

 

When making a decision whether a course of conduct warrants application of the deprivation provisions, reference should be made to section 48 of the VEA in relation to income and section 52E of the VEA in respect of assets.

 

 

Income support pension is: