Export Market Development Grants Amendment Bill 2013
Update: 28 June 2013
Due to the large number of bills before the Senate the Export Market Development Grants Amendment Bill was not considered before the Senate rose on Friday, 28 June 2013. As a result the proposed changes to eligibility rules in the legislation do not apply currently to marketing expenditure in the new financial year (2013-14). The future of the bill depends on when Parliament next sits and the views of the incoming Minister.
Austrade appreciates that this uncertainty makes planning more difficult for applicants. Applicants should currently work on the basis of the existing rules; Austrade will provide you with an update when any changes are known.
There are no changes to eligibility for grant year 2012-13 for which applications are now open.
Background
The Export Market Development Grants Amendment Bill 2013 was introduced to Parliament in February 2013. The Bill contained the following changes to the EMDG Act:
- increase the maximum number of grants to eight (excluding approved bodies and joint ventures)
- exclude expenses relating to the promotion of sales to the markets of the USA, Canada and the European Union in grant years six, seven and eight for all applicants except approved bodies
- remove the limit on administrative expenditure from the legislation and introduce a power for the Minister to set the limit on administrative expenditure by determination
- prevent further approval of joint ventures after 30 June 2013
- remove event promoters from the EMDG scheme
- prevent the payment of grants to applicants engaging an EMDG consultant assessed to not be a fit and proper person
- enable a grant to be paid more quickly where a grant is determined before 1 July following the balance distribution
- require applicants to acquit claims by individually paying for claimed expenses.
More information