Grant guidelines - low emissions livestock

Emissions from livestock currently account for one quarter of Tasmania’s total greenhouse gas emissions (excluding the land use, land use change and forestry sector). Research commissioned by the Tasmanian Government indicates that lowering methane emissions from livestock, through the use of feed supplements that inhibit enteric methane fermentation, has the largest emissions reduction potential out of all opportunities for Tasmania that are feasible with current technologies and policies. (For more information see the 2021 update of the Tasmanian Emissions Pathway Review)

Reducing emissions from livestock is likely to play a key role in ensuring Tasmania maintains, or improves, its net zero emissions status through to 2030 and beyond. Research supported by the Tasmanian Government also indicates that certain feed supplements may increase the productivity of livestock, making this an important opportunity for our agriculture sector.

Tasmania’s Climate Change Action Plan 2023-25 includes a commitment to support a large-scale trial of feed supplements to reduce emissions from livestock in Tasmania. A total of $4 million has been allocated to support this commitment.

There has been a large amount of research and development on these technologies in Australia and around the world. This program will build on existing Tasmanian Government funding of over $1 million to support the development of commercial feed supplements.

While some low emissions feed supplements have recently become commercially available in Australia, it is an emerging industry. There are opportunities to improve our understanding of the emissions reduction potential of these technologies, support the development of cost-effective solutions for large-scale commercialisation, and demonstrate the benefits to the Tasmanian agriculture sector to support wider uptake.

By supporting one or more large-scale trials, the intention of the grant program is to encourage broad commercial uptake of low emissions livestock technologies in Tasmania.

Joint applications for a grant under this program are encouraged. If you wish to partner with one or more organisations to deliver a program, you must appoint a lead organisation who will be responsible for submitting the application and entering into the agreement with the Department of State Growth and managing the grant funding.

All applications will be reviewed to ensure both the applicant and the project meet the eligibility requirements. All applications that meet the eligibility criteria will be assessed competitively against the assessment criteria.

The Assessment Panel may consider applications that do not meet all project eligibility criteria where an applicant can provide evidence that the project will achieve the intended outcome of the program.

Applicants may be asked to supply documentation to support their eligibility claims, as part of the application process, or as part of an audit process. Information supplied by applicants may be subject to authenticity checks using third party software.

Applicant eligibility

To be eligible for a grant under the program, the applicant must:

1. be an entity with an existing and ongoing presence located in Tasmania or show evidence of a partnership with an entity with an existing and ongoing presence located in Tasmania
2. be registered for tax purposes in Australia with an active Australian Business Number (ABN)
3. be registered for GST.

Ineligible applicants

To be eligible for a grant under the program, the applicant and all project partners must not:

1. be subject to any current or pending legal proceedings, including bankruptcy or liquidation
2. have already received support from the Tasmanian Government for the same project
3. be a government entity, including local, state and Australian Government agencies, and government business enterprises or state-owned companies.

Project eligibility

To be eligible for a grant under the program, the project must:

1. commence by December 2024 and be completed by December 2027 unless otherwise agreed
2. include a cash contribution of at least 20 per cent of the total project cost
3. involve one or more large-scale trials to deliver feed supplements to livestock in Tasmania
4. use a technology that current research has shown has a reasonable likelihood to deliver emissions reductions from livestock
5. be undertaken in Tasmania, with engagement and collaboration with Tasmanian livestock producers and the supply chain.

Co-contribution

A cash co-contribution by the applicant of at least 20 per cent of the total project cost is required. While the 20 per cent co-contribution is a minimum, higher co-contributions will be considered more favourably in the assessment of Criterion 4.

The cash co-contribution may be funded directly by the applicant, or through other sources such as a loan, private investment or public funding other than from the Tasmanian Government.

Eligible expenditure that can be included in the applicant’s co-contribution must be cash costs directly related to the project and not used to fund ongoing operational business costs.

Eligible expenditure

Eligible expenditure that can be included in the grant application must be costs directly related to the project and not ongoing operational business costs. Eligible expenditure may include costs associated with salaries, sub-contractor’s fees, equipment hiring, or purchases that are directly required to deliver the project.

Ongoing operational business costs that are considered as ineligible expenditure may include lease or purchase of land, rent, utilities, routine maintenance, building repairs or legal fees. Retrospective costs that have already been incurred by the applicant or project partners cannot be reimbursed by the grant funding.

Supporting information

Depending on the size of the project and the size of the grant, a successful applicant may be required to prepare a Tasmanian Industry Participation Plan. Guidance from the department will be provided as required.

Applications will be assessed competitively against the following criteria.

Preference will be given to projects that demonstrate economic and social benefits to the Tasmanian community, for example:

• project partners include Tasmanian small- and medium-sized businesses
• the project will support or create jobs in Tasmania
• the project will utilise goods and services from Tasmanian businesses
• the project will add value to imported goods or services through local development and innovation
• the project will lead to new skills or expertise being developed within Tasmania
• the project partners support the Tasmanian community, for example through formal support, sponsorship, volunteering or in-kind support.

Applicants should read these guidelines carefully before starting an application.

The Department of State Growth uses an online grants management system called SmartyGrants. This system is easy to use and accessible via mobile phones, tablets, laptops and personal computers. The online application form is designed to help structure applicants’ responses to the eligibility and assessment criteria.

Applicants will need to provide documents and information such as:

• a project plan
• a detailed project budget that gives a breakdown of the total cost of the project and evidence of funding strategy for the required co-contribution (minimum 20 per cent of total project cost)
• details of the lead applicant and any partners
• disclosure of any similar projects funded or supported through other Tasmanian Government sources, including explanation of how they differ from the project in your application.

Applicants should ensure they receive and retain an email notification when they submit their application, as confirmation that their application has been submitted. If no confirmation is received, please contact the Program Manager by email at climatechange@recfit.tas.gov.au or phone 03 6166 4466.

Applications close on 8 March 2024 at 11:59 pm. During the assessment process the department may, at its discretion, require further information to support or clarify an application. This information must be provided within three working days, unless otherwise advised. Failure to provide further requested information within the timeframe may result in the application being unsuccessful.

An Assessment Panel will be established comprising individuals with relevant knowledge and experience from within the Tasmanian Government and external organisations.

Applications will be assessed based on the extent to which their proposal meets the eligibility and assessment criteria detailed in these Program Guidelines, compared to other applications received.

The Minister for Environment and Climate Change will approve one or more applications, taking into consideration the recommendation of the Assessment Panel.

Successful applicant(s) will be invited to enter into a grant deed with the Department of State Growth. The agreement will set out the terms and conditions of the grant.

The successful applicants will be required to share data and information from the project with the Department. Data and information sharing with nominated third parties may also be required. The terms of the information and data sharing will be agreed in the grant deed.

The appeals process is designed to ensure that all applicants have been treated fairly and consistently in applying for Department of State Growth grants. The department will consider appeals relating to administrative process issues in grants management.

All requests must be in writing and should be addressed to the CEO of Renewables, Climate and Future Industries Tasmania.

Your request must be received within 28 days from the date of the Department of State Growth notifying you of the decision about your application. For further information about the process, contact the Program Manager in the Climate Change Office, ReCFIT, by email at climatechange@recfit.tas.gov.au or phone 03 6166 4466.

The successful applicant(s) will be asked for their nominated bank account details to process grant payments. This account must be in the same name as the entity that applied for the grant.

Providing incorrect bank account details may result in funds being paid to an incorrect account. These funds will need to be returned to us before we attempt another grant payment. This process may result in significant delays in funding being received. Additionally, we cannot guarantee that funds paid to an incorrect bank account will be returned to us.

If a grant recipient:

• does not complete the activities or tasks required under the funding agreement
• does not use any or all of the funding provided

the recipient will be required to return some or all of the funds to the department.

Similarly, if:

• the information provided to us is found to be false or misleading
• the recipient’s situation changes in a way that prevents completion of the agreed project

the recipient will be required to return some or all of the funds to the department.

Grants distributed under the program attract GST. Grant payments to successful applicants, who are registered for GST, are increased to compensate for the amount of GST payable. Where GST applies to the grant funding, a valid tax invoice must be supplied by the successful applicant to the department.

The receipt of funding from this program may be treated as income by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

It is strongly recommended that, prior to submitting an application, potential applicants seek independent advice from a tax advisor, financial advisor and/or the ATO, about the possible tax implications of receiving the grant.

Information on invoices can be found on our Business Tasmania website www.business.tas.gov.au/manage_a_business/invoices

An acquittal is a statement made by a grant recipient, confirming that the grant funding was used as per the funding agreement. Unless otherwise stated, it is a requirement that all Department of State Growth grants are acquitted.

How to acquit a grant

An acquittal form will be provided to successful recipients, asking for information about the activities and expenditure relating to the grant. Evidence of commencement of the project, such as quotations, invoices, receipts, statements, reports, or photographs of upgrade works, may also be required to support the acquittal.

The department may ask recipients to provide a Statement of Expenditure certified by an independent, professional auditor. In this situation the recipient will be responsible for the cost of obtaining the certified Statement of Expenditure.

Failure to complete an acquittal

Failure to lodge a valid acquittal by the due date will result in the recipient being required to return the funding to the department. In this situation the department will invoice the recipient.

The program will be administered by the Department of State Growth, through ReCFIT, on behalf of the Crown in Right of Tasmania. Contact the Climate Change Office, ReCFIT, by email at climatechange@recfit.tas.gov.au or phone 03 6166 4466.

True and accurate information

All applicants must take care to provide true and accurate information. Any information that is found to be false or misleading may result in action being taken and grant funds, if already provided, will be required to be repaid to the department.

The Department of State Growth disburses public funds and is therefore accountable for the distribution of those funds. As part of the accountability process, the department may publicise the level of financial assistance, the identity of the recipient, the purpose of the financial assistance, and any other details considered by the department to be appropriate.

Information provided to the Department of State Growth may be subject to disclosure in accordance with the Right to Information Act 2009.

The Tasmanian Government may use and disclose the information provided by applicants for the purposes of discharging its respective functions under these guidelines and otherwise for the purposes of the program and related uses.

The department may also:

1. Use information received in applications for any other departmental business.
2. Use information received in applications and during the delivery of the project for reporting purposes.
3. Use third party software to review information received in applications to confirm its authenticity.

Personal information will be managed in accordance with the Personal Information Protection Act 2004.

This information may be accessed by the individual to whom it relates, by request to the Department of State Growth. A fee for this service may be charged.

The following applies to all successful applicants:

• Despite any confidentiality or intellectual property right subsisting in the grant funding agreement or deed, a party may publish all or any part of the grant funding agreement or deed without reference to another party.
• Please note that all obligations under the Personal Information Protection Act 2004 (Tas) and the Privacy Act 1988 (Cwlth) still apply.

Although care has been taken in the preparation of this document, no warranty, express or implied, is given by the Crown in Right of Tasmania, as to the accuracy or completeness of the information it contains.

The Crown in Right of Tasmania accepts no responsibility for any loss or damage that may arise from anything contained in or omitted from or that may arise from the use of this document, and any person relying on this document and the information it contains does so at their own risk absolutely.

The Crown in Right of Tasmania does not accept liability or responsibility for any loss incurred by an applicant that are in any way related to the program.