Concessional loans of up to $250,000 will be available for primary producers who have seen significant damage to assets due to fires.

These measures include Primary Producer Bushfire Recovery Concessional Loans of up to $250,000 to assist primary producers who have suffered significant damage to their assets as a direct result of the 2026 Victorian Bushfires. The program is jointly funded by the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

Applications are now open and will close on 21 October 2026 at 4:00pm.

• Concessional Loans of up to $250,000 are available to assist primary producers which have suffered significant damage to their assets as a direct result of the 2026 Victorian Bushfires.
• Concessional Loans of up to $100,000 are available to assist primary producers which have suffered a significant loss of income as a direct result of the 2026 Victorian Bushfires.

The maximum total loan available under this program is $250,000. The amount available is based on an assessment of the applicants' financial position, including any amount recoverable under an insurance policy and cannot be more than the amount reasonably required.

To be eligible for a loan, applicants must meet certain criteria:

• Be a primary producer
• Devote part of their labour to the primary production enterprise
• Derive at least 50 per cent of their gross income from primary production in an average year
• Hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) and have held that ABN at the time of the eligible disaster
• Own a primary production enterprise in the defined disaster area for the eligible disaster
• Have been engaged in carrying on the primary production enterprise when affected by the eligible disaster
• Be primarily responsible for meeting the costs claimed in the application
• Be intending to re-establish or continue carrying on conducting the primary production enterprise within the same Local Government Area
• Have suffered significant damage to assets or a significant loss of income as a direct result of the eligible disaster
• Demonstrate that the primary production enterprise has reasonable prospects of long-term viability with the assistance provided and the capacity to repay the loan
• Use the funds for the approved purpose only
• Provide adequate loan security
• Demonstrate the primary production enterprise has not received another concessional loan for loss or damage that was related to the eligible disaster or where a concessional loan has been received it is replaced with a loan under this offering.

• Address: Rural Finance PO Box 1313 Bendigo Central 3552 VIC
• Phone: 1800 260 425
• Email: admin@ruralfinance.com.au